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SOL FRY. 



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j-^^COPYR'*; 



PIT':fSEURGH, PA. 
E. LUFT, Beok & Job Printer * Bookbinder, 135 Si^fJifield Stiv 

1876, 







Kntered according to act of Congress in the year 1875 by Sol Fry, 
in tlie Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



POEMS. 



A HARD TIME TO WRITE. 

FATHERS oft' think tlieir sons are smart, 
Yet few boys think their paps are sharp; 
A stranger they would sooner praise, 
Say he is smart in all his ways. 

And I have written on this page 
No praise for Saint, no praise for Sage, 
Prophets or Poets while they live. 
No praise for them relations give. 

How unpropitious was the day, 
Poetry led my mind away. 
For frowns on me were then begun. 
From oldest down to youngest son. 

You'll waste paper, and waste your time, 
You can not write one verse in rhyme. 
On long strips from old flour sacks, 
On waste paper that was torn from packs. 

In spare moments, by day and night. 
With pencil on those scraps did write. 
While weeks and months made years in time, 
Some lovely pieces wrote in rhyme. 



A HARD TIME TO WRITE. 

To change the scale, the tide back down, 
I should have written without one frown, 
For all my boys improve their time, 
Yet some say, I should write no rhyme. 

I raised, and schooled, and feed them long, 
Shall I not write one verse in song? 
Yes ! I have written on the page, 
Three boys sometimes in fearful rage. 

I-let them rip, and storm, and rage. 
Like Tigers wild, bound in a cage; 
And just write on to please my mind, 
They shall succumb, or stand behind. 

Give heed my wife, and daughters toOy 
While I relate one truth to you. 
You frowned on me when I begun, 
To write some lines, as poets done. 

You'll be forgot in years of time. 
My name upon the page will shine, 
O'er many vales and rolling strands^ 
And cross the seas to other lands. 

A floating far to all the isles. 
For to increase fair ladies' smiles. 
For poems I wrote in many day's, 
In many lines gave ladies' praise. 



LADIES PRAISE LONG FORGOT. 

LADIES' PRABSE LONG FORGOT. 

AS fair young maids as graced the earth, 
The Turks for gold have bought; 

T^o odds how loving, or how fair; 
For slaves have oft' been got. 

Their fathers sold them to the Turks, 

A custom in those days ; 
Among the Heathens long in use, 

How wicked were their ways. 

From morn's fir^t dawn, up to this time. 

In ages that are past ; 
A lady's praise, though oft' should been, 

Scarce filled a poet's task. 

The praise of men for deeds they did, 

In song you oft' may find ; 
A lady's praise, though strange to me, 

Has long been left behind. 

A man may err in many waj^s. 

His faults are little thought; 
A ladies* faults be e'er so light, 

They never are forgot. 

Though vile abuse be poured on them, 

If taken in a wrong; 
Such words to you I dare not speak, 

Or write them in the song. 

Young ladies' lair give heed to me. 
Don't sell yourselves too cheap; 



ladies' praise long forgot. 

Or time may come that you may have, 
Some bitter tears to weep. 

Be sure you're right in many ways, 

Before you be a wife; 
For all your days must be in peace, 

To live a happy life. 

Just look a man well in the face, 

His nature there you read ; 
His features formed to be lovely, 

Why, then you may proceed. 

While youth, and health, and peace, and wealthy 

Are blessings great in life, 
Yet no man can enjoy the bliss, 

Without a lovely wife. • 

To gaze upon her lovely smiles, 

And long admire her charms. 
And when she meets him at the door. 

Should fold her in his arms. 

In sickness or in best of health, 

She stands as guard to care; 
Pleasure or pain, as it may come. 

The lady takes her share. , 

The honey moon should never set, 
Bright beams of love should cast; 

Each day and year, their sacred charms^ 
As long as life may last. 

Love is the chain binds man to wife, 
It must be strong to do; 



LADIES PRAISE LONG FORGOT. 

To stand the wear and tear thro' life, 
Or it would break in two. 

The love from which this chain is made, 
It should be good all through, 

Or crooked face or cross word said, 
Might break this chain in two. 

Both man and wife should just be right. 
Their words all kind and true. 

This is the chain consoles the mind. 
And never breaks in two, 

God made woman last for the man, 

Great blessing then he got. 
For if woman had not been made, 

Earth been a vacant spot. 

The rain should beat upon the rose. 

To make it look more fair. 
The man that has a wife should treat 

Her with more tender care. 

How gay and sweet the rain drop makes, 
The rose bush when in bloom. 

Kind words and acts give to the wife. 
She'll smile night, morn and noon. 



THE OLD PEACH TREE. 

THE OLD PEACH TREE. 

I on a farm at Maple Creeki 

For fifty years did live ; 
Near thirty years a peach tree there, 

Some choice ripe fruit did give. 

It stood upon the Western side, 

Or just on top the hill ; 
And often times a basket I, 
vAnd pockets, there did fill. 

For many years it stood the storm, 
Of long cold winters night; 

And blossom' d early in the Spring, 
Oh ! what a lovel}'' sight. 

The prospect still much brighter far. 
To stand beneath its boughs; 

And pluck some of its golden fruit, 
To find out how eating goes. 

In Autumn time the fruit was ripe, 

I often came that way ; 
To see ripe peaches hanging high, 

And on the ground to lay. 

And often times did peel and eat, 

Myself to satisfy; 
From those that lay upon the ground. 

Or those that hung so high. 

That peach tree now has passed away. 
No peaches there we see ; 



THE OLD PBACH TRlS:. 

For not one limb can now be found, 
Of that fine old peach tree. 

Now, if you doubt the truth of this, 
Then John Wall you should see ; 

And he can tell you of the fruit. 
That grew upon that tree. 

When John had moved to Maple Creek, 

I go him for to see; 
And said: do get your basket John, 

And walk along with me. 

We walked up hill, just at our ease. 

It's slope was to the West; 
And on the top we found the tree, 

With yellow peaches blest. 

I shook the tree and he did eat, 

His basket too did fill, 
Of peaches that were ripe and sweet, 

That grew upon the hill. 

He took the peaches, then straight home, 

To please his wife so well ; 
How often she this peach tale told, 

I never now can tell. 

Now Mrs, Wall, just recollect. 

And 3^ou will surely know; 
And talk of those ripe peaches yet. 

As you've done long ago. 



10 LINES ON A CEMETERY. 

LINES Oil A CEMETRY. 

I start from home some work to do, 
The air was pure, the sky was blue ; 
The sun shone bright along the way, 
It was the Twenty- eighth of May. 

As I walked on some men I found, 
A fencing in a spot of ground; 
I just stepped in and looked all round, 
One lonely grave in there I found. 

What solemn thought ran in my head, 

To see a motion of the dead; 

Alas! alas! o'erflows the tear, 

Ere many months here stands a bier. 

Youth and beauty, young man and maid, 
Ere many 3^ears will here be laid; 
Fathers, mothers and children too. 
Their friends stand here to bid adieu. 

And weep for them upon the sod. 
Their cries ascending up to God, 
Hear ye living, prepare your way, 
To meet your God on Judgment Day, 



TOOK HER KISS AND EAT THE BREAD. 

A lady fair stood by my side. 
And she was dressed fine as a bride; 
The morning calm, and bright the day. 
Along the path we walked away. 



TOOK HER KISS AND EAT THE BREAD. 11 

Through flowry fields and meadows green ; 
Saw daisies and the meadow queen; 
And flowers bright of every hue, 
Stood on the meadow there in view. 

Choicest flowers that's in the land, 
A bouquet made, placed in her hand ; 
This rich bouquet I give to thee, 
Which love you best, bouquet or me? 

I saw her smile. Oh ! what deliqSt, 
Her pale blue eyes they shone so bright; 
Bouquet more fair I never knew. 
The bean without the K will do. 

You lovely maid, here by my side. 
Say! would you love to be my bride? 
"If you be kind as man should be, 
A loving bride I'll be for thee. 

I know, I am your fairest choice, 
I want no growl or scolding voice; 
Or crooked face no time in life, 
Do ever show your loving wife. 

If 3'ou consent to live by this. 
My heart and hand your earthly bliss;" 
If on my face a frown you see, 
Then sing your song of love to me. 

If David's harp could change the King, 
Your soft sweet voice might blessings bring; 
To change my mind and smooth my face, 
My lovely wife I'd then embrace. 



1S> FIDDLEE IN THE CORNER 

• She had some cakes brought from the store, 
And kisses too just by the score; 
"Here are some cakes L think they're sweet, 
And kisses too for you to eat. 

Those kisses keep, love, for my sake. 
Give me one kiss of your own make; 
I saw her blush, then turn her head, 
I took her kiss and eat the bread. 



FIDDLER IN THE CORNER. 

YOUR likeness I see oft' at home, 

The tresses of your hair; 
And form and features look so fine, 

I long to see you there. 

Long days and nights have past and gone. 

Since T saw your lovely face; 
As day and night bring all things on, 

I sit in your embrace. 

This night to talk to you of love, 
You long have been my dear; 

And now I sit here by j^our side. 
And whisper in your ear. 

That you ma}^ know the love is great. 

That rankles in my breast: 
And answer me soon as you can. 

To give my heart some rest. 



FIDDLER IN THE CORNER. IS 

As we sit here in love's embrace, 

I hope you'll answei' right; 
And tell that yon will be my bride, 

Do answer me this night. 

^'Before I answer you this nighty 

Some questions I must make; 
Of all the things I wish to know, 

Your vows I now must take. 

The first thing now comes in my mind, 

A sober man you be; 
Unless you promise fair through life. 

You can not marry me. 

For you must be as good and kind. 

As any man could be; 
In all your ways and acts through life, 

You must be kind to me. 

You promise fair to all [ ask. 

While sitting by your side ; 
Then I will answer j^ou to night. 

To be your promised bride.-" 

Oh! lovely maid, you ask just right, 

Such questions cause no strife; 
For I will be so kind to you. 

If 3'ou will be my wife. 

That this contract will make you safe, 

I pledge my heart and hand; 
If yon will join along with me; 

In wedlock's happy band. 



14 FIDDLER IN THE CORNER. 

She says I think that j'ou are right, 

I'll set the happy (lay; 
Our friends, I think, are all agreed, 

We need not run away. 

Now we will have a wedding soon, 
Some forty pairs or more; 

And we will take the carpet up. 
And dance upon the floor. 

When the day came round appointed. 
The preacher he was there ; 

With scores of beaux and belles, 
To see the happy pair. 

The preacher then stood on the floor, 
And I stood by my bride; 

With her and me the preacher then. 
An endless knot he tied. 

The ceremony was over, 

The people stand aside; 
The preacher's work is now all done, 

The groom has kissed his bride. 

The table was already set, 

With things that's costly fine; 

And beaux and belles invited there, 
Just then sit down to dine. 

Carving and waiting now is done, 
The dinner eat all right ; 

I thought I saw some in the crowd, 
That was a little tight. 



LOVERS ON THE LAWN. 15 

The fiddler sat in the corner, 

A shaking off his bow; 
That is the way they used to do 

At weddings long ago. 



LOVERS ON THE LAWN. 

AS I walked out one morning fair, 
To see the leaves and breathe fresh air; 
I think it was the month of May, 
The hills and vales all looked so gay. 

I past o'er hills, then on the plain. 
And there I saw the waving grain; 
I thought I through the lawn would pass, 
To see what pinks were in the grass. 

I turned my eye just to the right. 
And there I saw a lovely sight; 
Two lovers fair as picture drawn, . 
Were seated there upon the lawn. 

Had gathered pinks along the path. 
And just sat down to chat and laugh; 
She was a fine and lovely maid. 
Her lilly hand in his she laid. 

As I walked on to pass them by. 
She gazed right in his dark gray eye ; 
And smiled to see his manly face. 
As they sat there in love's embrace. 



16 THE LITTLE GIRL. 

And talk and smile, while I could see, 
And had no thought to scare at me; 
Then I walked home, and thought and aikid^ 
Long time ago I had a maid. 

Now youthful days have past and gone, 
No place for me upon the lawn ; 
As I am now, so they will be, 
Then youthful pleasures will all flee. 



' THE LITTLE GIRL. 

ONE day in town upon the street, 

I saw a little girlj 
The flaxen hair so soft and fine. 

Upon her head did curl. 

Was parted fair with skillful hands. 

And hung in tresses fine; 
And when she walked upon the street^ 

I saw them dance and shine. 

01 little girl you are so young, 

You need a mother's care; 
Your little hands so soft and white, 

Your dimpled cheeks so fair. 

To fold you in a mother's arms. 

And set joxa on her knee; 
And sing to you one little song, 

And kiss you tenderly. 



THE MAID AT THE WASH-TUB. 17 

Then gaze upon your soft blue eyes, 

A daughter's smiles to meet ; 
Or wipe for you one little tear, 

That hangs upon your cheek. 

Then set you down to run and play, 

Or do some little turns; 
If little daught, should e'er get hurt, * 

Man's heart with terror burns. 

This little girl a mother has. 

But lives so far away; 
That she, to earn the bread she eats, 

Is working by the day. 

Dear little girl, give heed to me, 

And mind just what I say; 
I hope you live, grow neat and fair, 

To see a happy day. 

And as you grow, improve your mind. 

Walk in the balmy shades ; 
That you may be a lady fair, 

Among the lovely maids. 



THE MAID WITH THE WASH-TUB. 

In twilight town o'er took a maid, 

With wash-tub in her hand; 
I said to her, just give me that, 

She followed my command. 



18 THE MAID AT THE WASH-TUB. 

We walked along upon green streets, 
Her form was neat and fair; 

Her lovely eyes were blue and bright, 
Brown were her locks of hair. 

The rose blush set fair on her cheek. 
She had no thought of fear ; 

Her words were fair and kind to me. 
Her voice was fine and clear. 

We soon came to the place I board, 
The tub stands by the door; 

This is a place to me long known, 
And oft' have been before. 

She then sits down, just in the door, 

A newspaper she read; 
A lovely maid so fine and fair, 

For some young man to wed. 

Short was her stay, then started home, 

The sun behind the hill; 
Her way is now a downward grade, 

To home above the mill. 

Before you pledge your heart and hand. 
Be sure 3'our beau j^ou bind, 

To be a sober and good man, 
And to his wife be kind. 

Or you 'may grieve some future day, 
When reading o'er this song; 

And thinking of your fate so sore. 
When I for years have gone. 



RECONCILED. 19 



Although I now so plainly speak, 

I hope it ne'er may be ; 
That any wrong may e'er turn up, 

To bring one tear from thee. 



Please let me swing upon your arm. 
As I often times have done; 

That is the way we used to walk, 
'Till our separation come. 

I own that I have used you wrong, 

In tears I now supplicate; 
Oh ! do not for that one small fault, 

Your sweet maid forever hate. 

For man may err as well as maid, 
Must I live to die by grief? 

Or pine away for years to come? 
You are the man can give relief, 

The'sun-shine^of your noble heart, 
Would illuminate my path; 

And my sorrow and great sadness, 
Would be turned into a laugh. 

He reached once more for her his arm, 
She walks again by his side; 

Before she e'er let go his arm. 
She became his promised bride. 



20 FORSAKEN MAID. 

FORSAKEN MAID. 

A man of pills, that is by trade, 
He used to court a lovely maid ; 
'And I had thought from what some said, 
A contract they had surely made. 

It looks to me, it's not the case, 
They are ho more in love's embrace; 
He^s left the place, and gone away, 
And he comes back no more they say. 

He may have written a time or two. 
But paper love will never do ; 
To use her right, must show his face. 
And sit by her in love's embrace. 

And talk about the wedding day, 
f And lovely pass the hours away; 
If in one year can't come and go, 
Your love for him no longer show. 

The worst thing now that I see wi*ong, 
Much time is lost and leap year gone; 
Just do the best, that you now can. 
There's one more chance to get a man. 

With letter stamps and envelopes. 
Send out your love to beaux by note; 
Gather them in from far and near. 
And you have naught I think to fear. 



COMPLIMENa?»^ 21 

Pick on the one you love the best, 
And throw the sack upon the rest; 
Be sure you have him safely bound, 
Before the sacking time comes round. 

For all boys hate this sacking plan, 
Sometimes one sack will do a man; 
You do your best, keep on this plan, 
Before one year may get a man. 



COMPLIMENT. 

YOU may think strange, what if you do, 
These loving lines are surely true; 
For. you to read in leisure times, 
And smile upon the poet's lines. 

Your fine fair hair in tresses gay, 
In all your walks they dance and play; 
In coils so fair hang from your head, 
Xiike costly charms their lustre shed. 

And when you stand, they hang at ease, 
Or just play on, if in the breeze; 
Your charming eyes so lovely too. 
It seems to me that they are blue. 

And shine as bright as stars above. 
And round them play the smiles of love; 
A modest blush you once put on, 
I looked again, the blush was gone. 



22 COMPIIMENT. 

Your lovely cheeks I saw were bright^ 
Had turned again to red and white; 
Your clear fine voice in tune complete. 
To charm the ear when lovers meet. 

And ruby lips o'erflow with bliss, 
The choicest beau can onl}'- kiss; 
Once at the board, there in the school, 
I saw you mark without a rule. 

And draw a map, correct and fine, 
As any one stood in the line; 
No criticism upon your plan. 
None could beat it, lady or man. 

The work upon the board that day, 
Was map of North America ; 
When in the school, or on the street, 
Your acts I saw, were all complete. 

Your fine address and lovely ways, 
Have gained for you a lady's praise; 
You leave the school a lovely maid. 
But schoolmates love now soon must fade. 

For you have gone now to your home. 
On those board walks now seldom roam; 
Or cross through mud, a street by night, 
When on the walk, say: I'm all right. 

See by your smiles in all your ways. 
You look throu2:li time for bri;?hter davs; 
Along the path that leads thro' life, 
A maid msiy change to be a wife. 



THE BASHFUL BOYS. 23 

And may bright days be yours thro' life, 
To live a mMd or live a wife, 
Your form is neat, your acts sublime, 
The man in truth could say 3^ou're mine. 

Choice a blessing as earth could give. 
For such a wife with man to live ; 
For you stand high in ladies' fame, 
And may be proud to tell your name. 



THE BUSKFUL BOYS. 

OUR boys are too bashful, 

I say, for any use; 
To wait on the table. 

Would surely make excuse. 

Each boy b}^ a turkey, 
Or one should by a goose; 

Each one carve up their own, 
All nice for ready use. 

And wait on the table, 

That they may learn at home; 
When among the ladies. 

Won't fear to stand alone. 

To carve the largest fowl. 

Upon the neatest plan; 
And wait on the ladies. 

And be a ladies' man. 



2^4 COMPLIMENTS. 

COMPLIMENTS. 

These lines I write, you know are true, 
These loving lines I write for you; 
For you to read in j^outh or age, 
And smile upon each written page. 

Your glossy, fine, light chestnut hair, 
Hangs in the style some ladies wear; 
In tresses once so fine and gay, 
Oh your fair neck I saw them play. 

Your fine fair brows, a lovely sight, 
Gruard o'er your eyes that shine so bright; 
And set so fair, just in their place, 
What charming smiles play on your face. 

For smiles of love in form complete. 
Hung long upon your rosy cheek; 
Your voice in tune the key-note love. 
More charming than the song of dove. 

And ruby lips so graceful meet, 

A handsome beau might say, they're sweet; 

No bustle wore with finest suit. 

And on your head no coil of jute. 

In natures form grew straight and fair, 
A handsome maid I do declare. 
Across the street you once did go, 
I saw you bound light as a roe. 



COMPLIMENTS. 25 

Great wonder then it was to me, 

To see a maid so smart as thee. 

A lady fair upon the street, 

And in the school your acts complete. 

And on the stage performed as fair. 
As any one that I saw there ; 
The curtain rose, a lovely sight. 
A lady fair, you stood in white. 

Some skillful hand, had parted fair, 
Your glossy curls of chestnut hair; 
A lady's blush sat on your cheek, 
And silence reigned to hear you speak. 

Your speech was fine, your voice was clear, * 
AH ears were set, 3^o'ur speech to hear; 
The curtain dropped, when you got through 
Your lovely form was hid from view. 

Almost two years, ne'er saw your face. 
You'd gone to school some other place; 
In all you learn may virtue shine, 
Be short or long your schooling time. 

A lady fair in all your ways, 
^^ay joy and peace crown all your days ; 
Don't live a maid through all your life. 
Be some good man's dear lovely wife. 

You are the one, young beaux oft' say, 
Do tell her name to me to-day; 



26 THE WAY TO HONOR. 

I told it not, least you might sa}', 
Bad beaux I sent to j^ou one day. 

Some lovely beau, j'ou may choose. 
To tell your name, I'll not refuse; 
Say years to come, long praise her fame, 
Miss Ada Sampson, is her name. 



THE WAY TO HONOR. 

That you attain to honors great. 

All in the way you walk ; 
Must keep the road that leads you straight 

And mind the way you talk. 

For crooked ways, lead to degrade. 

And mind your actions too; 
By one wrong act you are betrajied, 

Be careful what you do. 

On scrolls of time, writ'n plain to see, 

Bad acts are plain to sight ; 
No secrets here are kept lor thee, 

Now let 3'our acts be right. 

Eight acts and words day by day. 

On the way keep your eye; 
Ne'er turn upon a crooked way, 

Walk straight to»honors high. 



SINGING SCHOOL AND WEDDING. 27 

SINGING SCHOOL AND WEDDING. 

To singing school I oft' did go, 
In winter time through mud and snow; 
Sometimes the night was fair for me, 
I went to sing and girls to see. 

We sung by note, and sung by line. 

Some boys sung coarse, some girls sung fine; 

Intermission came after eight. 

Now boys look out to find your mate. 

The belles that wore the finest clothes 
Were number one among the beaux; 
Sometimes a sack would come in place. 
And that would leave a sour face. 

For boys that wore the finest suits. 
Could knock the shine from coarser boots; 
"We sang again, the tunes were new. 
Some talk we had, and we were through. 

We sing again, this night one week. 
And boys may come their belles to meet; 
Now beaux and belles just warm your feet, 
Let smile with smile so lovely meet. 

Beaux' overcoats, and hats, and gloves. 
Shawls, hoods, and veils, and muffs for doves; 
The belles readj^ and'wait their chance. 
To see their beaux as they advanced. 



28 SINGING SCHOOL AJfD WEDDING. 

With left arm crooked, all neat and square, 
Belles hook to them so neat and fair ; 
The .time has come to walk away, < 

And beaux and belles walk out so gay, 

A lady fair as she could be, 

With smiling face, then said to me: 

I'm by myself, I came alone, 

Dear sir be kind and take me home. 

You lovely maid swing on my arm, 

I'll guard you safe from every harm; 

And take you to your own abode. 

The moon shines bright, we'll take the road. 

The night was clear, the road was fine, 
. And we got home just half past nine ; ' 
Old folks to bed then did retire. 
And we sat talking b}^ the fire. 

Your songs of love I long to hear. 
Your voice so sweet it charms my ear; 
I love your form, I love your ways. 
Your acts demand the highest praise. 

Your eyes like stars, but shine more bright, 
I gaze upon their lustrous light; 
Just one thing now, or I am done. 
Say will you be my lonely one? 

As we sat there in love's embrace, 
I saw a blush come on her face; 
I looked again, her face was clear, 
Her answer was, I'll be your dear. 



SINGING SCHOOL AND WEDDING. 2^ 

You lovely maid, my joy and bliss, 
On your sweet lips I'll press a kiss; 
Her head fell back upon my arm, 
To kiss my love "I thought no harm. 

Two lovely ones, now seated near. 
She whispers now close in my ear ; 
Or happy ones I now may sa}^ 
For on that night she set the day. 

Love was the theme to guide the way, 
And we talked on 'till nearly day; 
E're morning's dawn brought on the day, 
I bade good night, and walked away. 

Next Thursday was the day she set, 
The night before we lovely met ; 
My groomsman stood just by my side, 
A waiting maid stood by my bride. 

We smile and talk with merry glee, 
As happy four as there could be; 
At last my love says : all is right, 
We supper eat, and bade good night. 

I took my man. straight with me home. 
We slept that night without a groan; 
When drowsy Morpheus closed our eyes, 
We had no dreams to give surprise. 

The morning came all bright and clear, 
No clouds like rain or winds to fear; 



30 SINGING SCHOOL AND WEDDING. 

We made ready to suit the day, 
And in the lane we rode away. 

Of beaux and belles, I had a band, 
To see me take my lady's hand; 
And some were gathered by my bride, 
To see her standing by my side. 

We reached the place, the times were good, 
For all were in a happy mood; 
The hour had come for which we meet. 
My love and I sat on our seat. 

The preacher then stood on the floor, 
And we two rose, to sit no more; 
That is, I mean, in single life, 
When wc sat down, we're man and wife. 

The preacher said : your vows for life, 
To bind you safe as man and wife; 
Gold, diamond ring was in ;ny hand. 
Before my bride I there did stand. 

This ring is round my bosom friend. 
Our love like it should have no end; 
This ring I give to you for life. 
And take you for my lawful wife. 

Of all my wealth I share with thee. 
In all my joys rejoice with me; 
She looked at me, and then she said, 
I long have been your loving maid. 



SINGING SCHOOL AND WEDDING 31 

This ring you gave to me for life, 
For I will be your lawful wife; 
This happy da>% Oh! how sublime, 
For all your joys will now be mine. 

And mine be yours, as it should be. 
Long a« I live I wish to see; 
The preacher says, now man and wife. 
May love abound through all your life. 

Great wishes then, for bride and groom, 
As we sat down it was just noon ; 
The dinner next, and costly fine. 
And we were bid to sit and dine. 

I then sat down just by my bride, 
Our waiters sat one on each side ; 
With knife and fork my right hand man. 
Carved a turkey now on his plan. 

And beaux and belles were seated round, 
And on each plate a slice was found; 
With lots of things that's good to eat, 
My coffee too I found was sweet. 

Best meal I've eat in all my life. 
And first one with my lovely wife; 
Long as I live, while nights are cool, 
I'll ne'er forget the singing school. 



32 JOHNNY BLAIR. 

JOHNNY BLAIR. 

A flirt courted eight beaux at once, 
And promised them all fair; 

Among the rest a handsome man, 
They called him Johnny Blair. 

She fooled them all, that is but one, 
Such actions were not fair; 

She took the one sha thought the best, 
It was not Johnny Blair. 

Young Johnny Blair laid in complaint,. 

For he had loved her dear ; 
And often times he said to her, 

I shed the briny tear» 

You married him, he was your choice,. 

Perhaps you love him best; 
Eemember me, if he is cross, 

Though I be gone to rest. 

You tell him of one Johnny Blair, 
That was so kind and free; 

Say he's the one I should have had^ 
In place of taking thee. 



THREE NIGHTS AT TEA. 33 

THREE NIGHTS AT TEA. 

SAT by a maid one night at tea, 
Saw by her eye that she loved me, 
For smiles of love I plain could see, 
As I sat there to sip my tea. 

When tea was past, near all were gone, 
She said to me: just come alnog; 
I got my hat, I brushed my hair, 
And walked right up to her then square. 

She then took hold of my left arm. 
Such love as that I thought no harm ; 
We walked the streets, the night was fine, 
The sky was clear, the moon did shine. 

A corner turned we passed one square, 
She said to me, I live just there; 
I rang the bell, the waiter there, 
I walked right in, I took a chair. 

She took my hat, a lady's right. 
And set it by just for the night; 
Then came, and stood so close to me, 
I said, my love sit on my knee. 

So she sat down, and had no fear. 
Her arm went round below my ear; 
We're setting in such close embrace, 
My arm was round her slender waste. 

We talked and smiled as lover's should, 
And I suppose the time was good ; 



34 • THREE NIGHTS AT TEA. 

Encouragementi I thought she'd need. 
To help her on with best of speed. 

I said to her, just like a man, 
This is the time to urge your plan; 
This is leap year and ladies can. 
Just ask their beau to be their man. 

She hemM and hem'd, her voice to clear. 
Popped the question right in my ear; 
I said your plan seems right to me, 
I'll answer it sometime at tea» 

While you are right, I think she said : 
And kissed me like a lovely maid ; 
And we talked on 'till nearly daj^ 
I got my hat, and slipped away. 

Said to myself, as I walked home. 
An awful plan to live alone; 
Next time I go to sip my tea, 
I'll answer her so lovingly. 

The day was set, the time came round. 
And at my tea I there was found ; 
But plague the word she'd say to me, 
As I sat there to sip my tea. , 

She gave to me some sour looks. 

That I might know her turns and crooks ; 

A dandy chap was seated nigh. 

She cast her smiles right in his eye. 



THREE KIGHTS AT TEA. 35 

Confound the luck, I hate the plan, 
I felt most like a ruined man; 
I was now up to thirty-eight, 
And all the time without a mate. 

Among the girls one looked so sly. 
Could read her tricks plain in her eye ; 
She said to me: won't be no harm. 
If I would swing now on jour arm. 

I said to her: I must go home, 
My house is left there all alone; 
She said your house is right to night. 
Come stay with me 'till morning light. 

Your plan to me, is nothing new, 
I on that plan was once put through; 
I'll find a girl some other day, 
I grabbed my hat, and ran away. 

I go to tea no more alone, 
I'll take a girl with me from home; 
I looked all round a girl to find, 
With curly hair to please my mind. 

Found one handsome, though she was poor, 
I saw at once, my plan was sure. 
With costly clothes, I dtess'd her fine ; 
And diamond rings to make her shine. 

Now she was dressed neat as a bride, 
To sit at tea close by my side; 

s days passed on, the time came round, 
And we at tea in time were found. 



36 THE BRIGHTER DAY. 

They looked at her, then looked at me, 
While we sat there to sip our tea; 
The girl that once did curl her nose, 
Was now surprised to see fine clothes. 

And dandy Jack now had no grin. 
For his girl had no smile for him ; 
We stopped the fun for that one day, 
And after tea we walked away. 

I. took her home so lovingly, 
In OJie week more she went with me; 
I had her dressed still far more fine. 
And there she changed her name to mine. 



THE BRIGHTER DAY. 

THE rolling years are passing by,. 
We long and look, and often sigh, 
To see some bright and better day, 
Long as our years they pass away. 

From youth to age we pass along. 
That is the way this life runs on; 
More lovely times we never can find, 
By passing through long years of time. 

For days and years have come and gone, 
And we are still passing along; 
How long will time roll on this way. 
Until we see a brighter day? 



KIND PEOPLE. 37 

t 

Thousands of years have come and gone, 
Millions of souls have gone along; 
Brighter day we should seek to find, 
In holy and happy clime. 



KIND PEOPLE. 

FOR many years I have 

Through vales and hills walked round; 
Good place to stop all night, 

I always yet have found 

At places where I stop, 

The ladies use me kind; 
Sometimes with strangers too. 

But nature's ties still bind. 

Some meet me at the door, 

With smiles upon their cheeks; 

Good fire in winter time, 
I sit and warm my feet. 

And when the time comes round, 

Good supper I do eat ; 
Soft bed to sleep upon. 

And breakfast all complete. 

And different kinds I meet. 

Some ladies young and gay ; 
Some many winter's frost. 

Show on their heads to-day. 



38 ACROSS THE FIELDS. 

Some dear old mothers too, 

I never can forget; 
They were once young and kind, 

I see their kind acts yet. 

Some past their middle age, 
Bending towards the tomb ; 

They live to do good yet, 
Call there at night or noon. 

They'll be rewarded yet, 
When time will be.no more; 

For many have they fed, 

That called there at their door. 



ACROSS THE FIELDS. 

ACROSS the fields, not far away, 

That is the place for me; 
And oft' at night there I would straj* 

A handsome maid to see. 

I courted her, say twice- a- week, 

I think about one year; 
No other one her love did seek, 

For I was always near. 

With her I had a promise made, 
That I would be her beau ; 

No other one would do, she said 
Because she loved me so. 



• ACROSS THE FIELD. 39 

We often talked of matches fine, 

Some other ones have made ; 
And now our own so near the time, 

And not a word yet said. 

just then I kissed my lovely maid, 

Saw, if her love was true; 
Oh! that's so sweet and nice, she said. 

Because it came from you. 

The question now, I popped so quick. 

Without a thought of fear; 
Her answer next, it came so slick, 

I long to be your dear; ^ 

* "I thought of this six months ago, 
But saw you were afraid; 
And still you were my loving beau. 
And I your lovely maid." 

■'TIS consolation now to my mind. 

There's nothing now I fear; 
While in you now, such love I find, 

You are my lovely dear. 

Good night, my love, one parting kiss 

Upon your lips so sweet;- 
Per such an act won't be amiss. 

Before you go to sleep. 

Across the fields for home I went. 

My heart was light and free; 
Just like a boy on errand sent. 

Returning merrily. 



4:6 NIGHT LOAFERS. • 

Next time I went she set the day, 
She said : cut short your rhyme ; 

For it will cause such a delay^ 
Next Thursday is the time. 

And sure enough, next Thursday came, 

And she and I were right; 
The preacher and twelve friends the sum, 

And closed the bargain tight. 



NIGHT LOAFERS. 

HE loafs around somewhere in town, 

Till nine o'clock or more; 
While I must stay at home alone, 

My lonesome life deplore. 

Alas ! for me, I'm ruined now. 

The wrong I now can see; 
If I were not his weeping wife, 

I never now would be. 

If I could sing some mournful song, 

For mournful it must be;^ 
One like the Jews, long wept, and hung 

Harp on the willow tree. 

Most all men wish to have a wife, 
And they more kind should be ; 

And no night leave their wife to loaf, 
Such folly they should see. 



MT WIFE. 41 

Perhaps you ve walked the darkest night, 

To court her for your bride; 
Now when your clay's work is all done, 

Sit down just by her side. 

Don't make yourself a t3Tant now. 

And your sweet wife a slave;' 
But do your part like a good man, 

For her your love all save. 

And all spare time that you may get. 

Converse with her awhile ; 
And she will recompense you well, 

Just by her lovely smile. 



MY WIFE. 



WHEN she was young and charming fair, 
With rosy cheeks, and raven hair; 
Her eyes were blue, the kind that's bright, 
I gazed upon her with delight. 

Her form was neat, her features fine, 
I blest the day that she was mine; 
We then start on the path through life, 
Walk side by side a man and wife. 

Saw winter's frost and summer's sun, 
Till more than half our sands are run; 
She had the light elastic step, 
Though long ago, I mind it 3- et. 



42 MY WIFE. 

She walks now slow, her eyes not bright, 
So changed by time, dim is her sight ; 
For many years have passed away, 
Her form and features not so gay* 

Her long black hair all turning gray, 

I see her changing every day; 

Her rosy cheeks are pale to-day, 

Long years have washed their bloom away. 

Her ways were kind when young and gay, 
Her brow as calm as morn in May; 
Old age may drive smiles from the faee. 
And frowns may come and take their place. 

Oh! cruel time, no one you spare. 
You changed her face and changed her hair; 
That lovely smile tore from her brow. 
Your own foot-steps are marked there now. 

In vain look back, though I should say, 
She was so fair in youthful day; 
I loved her then, I love her yet. 
Forty-six years since first we met. 

Many ladies these lines will read, 
They suit but one that's true indeed; 
Her hair, her cheeks and time agree, 
March eighth, eighteen seventy-three. 



ON FACTS. 43 

ON FACTS. 



THE tallest tree that grows, 
Stands pointing to the sky; 

From youth to age we pass, 
And oft' we have a sigrh. 



'O" 



For I remember well, 

When I was young and gay; 
My hair was shining black, 

But now its turning gray. 

When raging storms pass on. 
To frighten maid or man; 

Always behind there comes 
A peaceful lovely calm. 

Flowers bloom in summer time. 
Along the path we tread; 

We look in winter time, 

Behold! sweet flowers are dead. 

The fairest flower that blooms, 
On lawns in month of May, 

With beauty and perfume. 
How soon it fades away. 

When days are hot, we love 

To find a balmy shade ; 
A handsome beau may sit, 

Beside a lovely maid. 

Green trees in summer time 
Will give a pleasant shade; 



44 UP THE CRIEK. 

The girl will not marry, 
Is sure to die a maid. 

The fairest cheek that blooms 
On lady's face to-day, 

The time may shortly come, 
To wipe the bloom away. 

One generation steps, 
Upon the stage to day ; 

The time will surely come. 
When they will pass away. 

In ages that are past, 
And ages yet to come, 

Alas for mortal man ! 

How soon his days are run! 



UP THE CREEK. 

WAY down the hill and up the creek, 
That was the road for me ; 

And often times I walked it quick, 
My lovely maid to see. 

I courted her, I thought the best. 

Till it was nearly day; 
And then she went to sleep, to rest 

And I went on my way. 



UP THE CREEK. 45 

Far down the creek and up the hill, 

No other way to go; 
And on my way I past a mill, 

Sometimes I walked it slow. 

A meditating on my luck, 

Yet knew not what would be, 
But still hung on with best of plack. 

To find what luck for me. 

Through doubts and fears I still went on, 

For many weeks, you see; 
And still I thought the time was long. 

Yes quite too long for me. 

• The question popped, my fate to see, 

If it was woe or bliss ; 
With modesty and love for me, 
She answered with a kiss. 

Her hair was black and glossy too, 

Her lovely eyes were bright; 
It seemed to me that they were blue, 

I gazed at them that night. 

In summer time the knot was tied, 

Some twenty years ago; 
And since that time walk side by side. 

As man and wife, you know. 

Almost one dozen children came. 

And some of them are gone; 
Now of the living eight we name. 

And still we pass along. 



46 MARCUS LAVENE. 

Her rosy cheeks, black shining hair. 
Her teeth resemble pearl; 

She looks to me almost as fair, 
As when she was a girl. 



MARCUS LAVENE. 

A German son, a Jew by birth, 
Has wandered far upon the earth; 
In dangers great while on the deep. 
Where mountain waves o'er vessels sweep* 

Till sailor's face turn awful pale. 
High on the mast to fold the sail; 
O'er hill and vale and mountain frost, 
The wa}' though long this countr^^ crossed. 

Then far down in a southern state, 
Where men oft^ find and choose their mate 
In Moorfield Town, Virginia State, 
That was the place he found his mate. 

Her features fine, her form was right, 
She pleased him well just at first sight; 
Her eyes were blue, the kind that's bright, 
He gazed upon her with delight. 

Her chestnut hair in waves did float, 
About one month his love did court ; 
A man and wife now many years. 
Oft times in smiles, some times in tears. 



WILLIE LEE. .47 

Saw bombshells burst, and fearful near, 
And balls of lead sing past his ear; 
Afflictions sore has oft past through, 
All nations yet do hate the Jew. 

Lqng wandering son of Jacobs race, 
Hebrew features yet form his face; 
A miracle almost his life, ' 

Nine children and a lovely wife. 



WILLIE LEE. 

A handsome man, a merchant's son, 

His nseme is Willie Lee, 
Must go for goods, the time has come. 

And he must cross the sea. 

In that same town there lived a maid, 
She was his promised bride; 

Unto her then he went and said, 
I soon must cross the tide. 

Then hand in hand down to the bay, 

Seated there on the green ; 
Her cheek upon his breast did lay. 

Oh ! do not leave your queen. 

They sat so long down by the shore, 

A gazing in the deep ; 
She thought her love she'd see no more 

And she began to weep. 



48 THE MERRY MILK MAIDS. 

Do not forsake me, Willie Lee, 
You'll never come back I fear; 

You may be shipwrecked on the sea, 
Dont leave me, Willie dear. 

How can you leave your loving maid, 
Her love so great and true; 

These were the words to him she said. 
Before he bade adieu. 

Her hand in his so tender laid, 
His eyes they dropped a tear; 

One parting kiss to her he said. 
Then parted from his dear. 



THE MERRY MILK MAIDS. 

'TWAS on a winter's day, 

I visited the school, 
And saw two ladies there, 

So close observe the rule. 

Their acts were fair and kind, 

As ladies' acts could be; 
For in the writino^ class, 

Their actions 1 did see. 

And when the school was done. 

They did not go alone ; 
A brother that was kind 

Just came and took them home. 



THE farmer's wife, 49 

One evening, as I walked 

Upon a country road; 
A cane was in one hand, 

Tlie other hand a load. 

Just then I heard a hound, 

Upon a track for game ; 
I thought, I knew the hound. 

And the owner's name. 

Two maids then passed the gate, 
The "sook" for "Sweet" and "Jule;" 

A pail hung on their arms, 

They are now home from school. 

Those merry milk-maids sung, 

With voice so fine and clear; 
Their song so sweet and loud, 

Yet ringing in my ear. 



THE FARMER'S WIFE. 

AS I am now a farmer's wife. 

My work is never done; 
I may commence ere morning dawn, 

And work till setting sun. 

And even then my work's not through. 
Some sewing or some fixing; 

At morning dawn commence again, 
"Working in the kitchen. 



50 RULE TWELVE FORGOT. 

The breakfast got, and eaten fast. 

Then off to milk my cow; 
And back again on double quick, 

Oh! what's the matter now? 

The child has fall'n upon the floor, 

And hurt its little nose; 
Always, when I go out to milk, 

•That is the way it goes. 

J>[ow 1 would like to live in town, 
They have no cow to milk; 

Then I could work, and knit, and sew, 
And dress in fancy silk. 

Then with my baby always near, 
When it would raise a cry; 

Could sing for it one little song, 
Of "rock the baby bye." 



RULE TWELVE FORGOT. 

ONE time in town, in month of May, 

Not many years ago, 
A lady student rooming there ; 

One night she had a beau. 

The young man came just to the house, 
Where he had been before ; 

And after nine o'clock at night. 
He popped right in the door. 



RULE TWELVE FORGOT. 51 

To see a lady rooming there, 

Her room was on third floor; 
"With lamp in hand I lit him up, 

'Till we came to her door. 

He gave to her the shortest call, 

For teachers often out; 
To see the beaux and belles, they say, 

To know what they're about. 

Then down the stairs, and out again, 

To keep a sharp look-out; 
With all his gaze in walking round, 

No teachers found about. 

When one long hour had passed away, 

Again his luck he tried — 
And sat himself down in the room, 

Just by his lady's side. 

There in the silence of the night, 

Encircled in his arm; 
A sitting in such lovel}'' wa}^ 

That way he thought no harm. 

He courted her the best he knew, 

For she was sitting near; 
He had no dread upon his mind, 

No teacher's ear could hear. 

For hours he then poured out his love, 

So softly in her ear; 
She answered kindly all the time, 

His loving heart to cheer. 



52 IN THE BALMY SHADE. 

The time has come, he must be gone, 
He grasps her lilly hand; 

Some parting words to her he said, 
And kissed her by the stand. 

Then in a rush to leavie the place. 

For it was getting day; 
Lamp chimney, broke upon the stairs, 

There in the morning lay. 

Ohl- what a wicked thing it is, 
This number twelve in school; 

For beaux and belles have often tried, 
But ne'er can mind the rule. 



IN THE BALMY SHADE. 

SWEET is the air that's passed o'er flowers, 

And sweet this balmy shade; 
But sweeter far the pleasant hours. 

Past with a lovely maid. 

The sweetest flower I e'er did see, 

Just sits here in the shade; 
No sweeter one can ever be, 

Than is my lovely maid. 

Sugar kisses made for the trade, 

Not half so sweet to me; 
As your sweet kiss, my dear, I said, 

Under this shady tree. 



ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP, 53 

Be seated in this pleasant shade, 

Is surely earthly bliss; 
My arm around my lovely maid, 

Receiving her sweet kiss. 

Give me for life a shade like this, 

You seated by my side; 
A question now, won't be amiss. 

Say, will j^ou be my bride. 

She answered me no word she said, 

But turned her head just right; 
And kissed me like a lovely maid, 

To seal the bargain tight. 



ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP. 

WE courted long till nearly day. 
Then up the mountain wend our way, 
High on this mount she wished to be, ' 
The rising sun just for to .see. 

Lived in the vale so far below. 
Its morning rays could never know ; 
We reach the place in best of time. 
The sun will soon begin to shine. 

Yon golden gate that shines so bright. 
The sun breaks through to chase the night; 
Oh ! lovely sight to me she said. 
For now I am your loving maid. 



54 ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP. 

There ou a mountain that was high, 
With my sweet maid a standing by; 
We gazed upon the light of day, 
The shades of night had passed away. 

The sun's bright rays extending west, 
And all the hills with light were blest; 
A shade was in the vales below, 
The morning calm no winds to blow. 



'O 



The evergreens all bright and gay. 
The winter scene passing away; 
As we walked down the mountain side, 
I said my dear, do be my [bride? 

Saw on her face a smile of love, 
With voice more sweet than song of dove; 
She gave me there to understand. 
That I was welcome to her hand, 

I said: this is a happy place. 
Will we stop here in love's embrace? 
O! no, she said, we must go down. 
To set one rose upon the mound. 

A handsome bush on wedding day. 
When we walk round, you smiling say ;^ 
I pluck one rose from this mound's side, 
The emblem of my own sweet bride. 

As we walked on she set the day. 
In a spring month, eighteenth of May ; 
As time rolls on, the day came round. 
And in her room I then w^s found. 



ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP, 55 

We're seated on a divan fine, 
Her love must soon be bound to mine; 
In my hand lay her tender hand, 
And on the floor we there did stand. • 

The preacher too stood on the floor, 
To tie a knot that parts no more; 
And bound me safe for coming life. 
To my dear, sweet, and lovely wife. 

The dinner's o'er, and some had ffone. 
We just walked out upon the lawn ; 
The mountain pinks and red woods too, 
All out in bloom stood in our view. 

And in our walk we just passed round. 
Came to the fine old grassy mound; 
I saw the rose, so did my bride. 
Then gazed upon yon mountain side. 

We saw the tree that marks the sight, 
We pledged our word there to unite; 
I pluck this rose, just as you said. 
When you were there my lovely maid. 

And to yourself did it compare. 
Though it's to me not half so fair; 
No rose I've seen in all my life, 
I could compare to my sweet wife. 



56 LOST HER LOVELY BEAU. 

LOST HER LOVELY BEAU. 

OH ! mourn for me, 

All youthful maids' to know ! 
By death I lost 

My kind and lovely beau. 

Oh ! cruel fate, 

Could you not spare that one? 
That lovely man 

My heart and hand had won. 

Dark vale of death, 

No lignt is there to shine; 

Beyond it lies, 

That bosom friend of mine. 

I sit to-night 

A lonely weeping maid; 
My lovely one 

Is gone! is gone! I said. 

His body lies 

Beneath the grassy sod. 
His spirit's gone, 

Its way, to meet its God. 

No more I gaze 

Upon his lovely face; 
Or sit by him 

In fondest love's embrace. 

His wa3^s and acts, 

Were all kind and sublime ; 



SUN-SETTING VIEW. 57 

His coral lips 
No more I press to mine. 

I mourn by night, 

And weep throughout the day; 
There's no one now, 

To wipe my grief away. 

No sister's hand 

Or brother's fondest care 
Could take from me 

One mournful tear to bear. 



SUN-SETTING VIEW. 

AN artist on a rustic chair, 
Behind him stood a lady fair, 
With folded arms and on one knee 
His finest work she wished to see. 

With paints all fresh and pencils new, 
To finish a sunsetting view; 
He said, I fear this will fall through, 
I have to gaze so much at you. 

Oh! no, she said, contented be, 
To finish up so fine for me; 
And while I gaze upon the scene, 
My eyes on j^ou half way between. 



58 • SUN-SETTING VIEW* 

He thea commenced his work to do, 
And darkened all the lower view; 
Then turned his eyes upon his maid, 
A smiling then she to him said: 

Your bright blue eyes and mustache too, 
I love far more than sun-set views; 
Upon his work he turned anew, 
The higher up, the brighter true. 

On mountain top one lingering ra}^ 
The last bright spot in fading day. 
My work is done aright, he said; 
Then turned ao^ain to see his maid. 



"O" 



With smiling face she to-him said, 
Now paint for me your loving maid ; 
Well, if I can now justice do. 
To paint a maid so fair as you. 

^'She said: I stand fair in your view, 
For you can paint a lady true; 
My golden locks make tresses ga}^ 
On my fair neck then graceful lay. 

You paint my eyes the brightest hue. 
Like morning sun on drops of dew; 
Such pleasant smiles paint on my face, 
As artist's brush can seldom trace. 

My ruby lips, you know they're sweet. 
For with your own they often meet; 
Or my fair cheeks with carmine brush. 
Just bring them to a lady's blush " 



THAT SONG. §9 

Just then her eyes did shine so bright, 
To gaze upon, would dim his sight; 
Her features too, so. lovely fair, 
He had no paints that would compare. 

I'll paint for you some other time, 
Your ruby lips just press to mine; 
For Cupid's arrow pierced him through. 
While painting that sun-setting view. 



THAT SONG. 



AS I came home one day from town, 
Saw in the field a maid sit down; 
To sing her song just near the lane. 
That song to me do sing again. 

Your fine sweet voice, it charmed my ear, 
While I stood there your song to hear; 
For through the' fence you scarce were seen, 
While singing there upon the green. 

The song you sang it was just right, 
O! sing that song to me to-night; 
No other song that I can tell, 
To hear, would please me half so well. 

When you sat down, thought none was near, 
I o'er the fence your song did hear; 
Do sing that song and sing it clear. 
For each verse ends : to be your dear. 



60 PARTING SCENE. 

Astonished now, her looks were wild, 
Her eyes grew bright, she gave a smile; 
She tuned her pipe, her voice was clear. 
Sent her sweet song right in my ear. 

"If this the song, you love so well, 

I'll sing it for you clear ; 
And sound it out, so you can tell, 

I long to be your dear. 

To meeting go, just by your side, 

And sing so fine and clear; 
And sit there like a promised bride, 

I long to be j-our dear. 

When I am through, you'll answer right, 

While I am sitting near; 
I sing to you so sweet to-night, 

I long to be your dear. 

His answer then, it just came right, 
Our lips then cracked so queer; 

His promise is, now from this night, 
I'll have you for my dear." 



PARTING SCENE! 

WHAT lovely hours Vve passed with you, 
Since our courtship first begun; 

Will break my heart to bid adieu, 
My friends all say, it must be done. 



PARTINa SCENE. 61 

Your charming ej^es, now set on me, 
That I may see that lovely sight; 

For it must be, that I leave thee. 
Before the dawn of morning light. 

One parting kiss I crave from thee. 
Then take your lamp and go to rest ; 

And in your dreams remember me, 
That you so long have loved the best* 

Then on my breast her cheek she laid. 
And round my neck her arms she bent ; 

Cries, do not leave your loving maid. 
And long she wept before I went. 

How dark that hour to me has been, 
I left my loved one, gone forever; 

No star of hope to shine between. 

My fate so fixed, naught now can sever. 

No rolling time can bring one day, 
Long as 1 live to draw my breath. 

To drive from me her form awaj', 
My sure relief is only death. 

Then speed your flight, ye wheels of time, 
And bring to me that dreadful day; 

Its trying hour is trul}'' mine, 
I welcome death, and pass away. 



62 FOR A BACHELOR. 

FOR A BACHELOR. 

SOME years ago, once at a daiice^ 

I saw a lady there; 
Her graceful move none could excels 

She was a lady fair. 

A wicked thought came in my head^ 
When first I saw the maid; 

For full three years I courted her, 
E'er I could her degrade. 

And when I found, what I had done,. 

In time I ran awa}^; 
And left the one I loved so well, 

To see a bitter day. 

Deep sorrow then did swell my breast^ 
To think what I had done; 

I courted long that handsome maid, 
And ruined that lovely one, 

• Five hundred and a quarter paid, 
To make her right again; 
No dollars e'er could man count out,. 
To wipe away the stain. 

A single life she lives to day, 

And I a bachelor; 
Of all li^dies I've ever seen, 

No one I love like her. 

A warning now to all young men,. 
Give heed to all I've said 



' J 



MAN AND THE ROSE. 6S 

In all your ways and acts thro' life, 
Ne'er spoil a lovely maid. 

My sisters married now and gone, 

My mother left alone; 
Some say, that I should marrj'- her, 

And bring her to my home. 



MAN AND THE ROSE. 

HOW frail is man, poor mortal man, 
How like the rose of May; 

It blooms awhile all bright and fair, 
And then it fades away. 

The rose from bud to perfect bloom, 
It takes but daj's, we say; 

From childhood up to perfect man. 
Long years must pass awa3^ 

Just so it is with their decay. 

The rose in daj^s of time; 
While many years it oft' may take. 

For man in his decline, 

The rose- bud roots are in the ground, 

To bloom again in May; 
E'er many days they wither down. 

And soon they pass away. 



64 THAT STORMY NIGHT. 

We mortals all sink in the grave, 

From dust at first we came; 
In Judgment Day we all will rise, 

And stand erect again. 

Beyond the shining stars above, 

Beyond the milky way; 
There all will bloom that are found right, 

In one eternal day. 



THAT STORMY NIGHT. 

I courted once a lovely maid, 

I think it was in June; 
The trees were all in full grown leaf, 

And vining rose in bloom. 

That stormy night I'll ne'er forget. 

As long as life may last; 
The wind and rain beat on the tree. 

And lightning flashing past. 

I said : you hear that awful sound? 

The storm beats on the tree; 
Care not my love for you are safe. 

While seated here with me. 

Now while the storm is raging on, 

I sit here by your side; 
And long to hear you answer me, 

Say, will you be my bride? 



THAf «TORiiT jrwaT. 65 

I answer no, you'will not do, 

To guide my way thro' life; 
Another beau I have in view, 

And I will be his wife. 

Then I must bid to you adieu, 

The pelting storm to stand; 
And sail away e'er many days, 

To some far, unknown land. 

East India Isles the place I land, | 

It is a place of wealth ; 
My courtship and my love bound up, 

And laid them on the shelf. 

Work at my trade for thirty years, 

And made it pay in gold ; 
The thousands that I made while there, 

To no one yet I told. 

And when the thirty years were past, 

My home I longed to see; 
I started on a westward course, 

And sailed across the sea» 

As I was walking up the street, 

Almost in sight of home; 
A carpet sack full in my hand. 

By chance I walked alone. 

I saw a lady in her room, 

. With weeds upon her head ; 
A sitting in a rocking chair, 
Now sure her man is dead ! 



»HAT iTORMY KIGH^T. 

I raised my hat, and just stepped in. 
And long she gazed a% me; 

You're thinking of that fearful night, 
When storms beat on the tree. 

When you were but a youthful maid, 

I sat there by your side, 
And while the storm raged wildly on , 

I said do be my bride. 

But you said no, I would not do, 
To guide your way thro' life; 

Another beau you had in view, 
And you became his wife. 

And he abused you many years, 
Now dead and out of sight ; 

Say ! can you sit with me again, 
More loving than that night? 

I saw her tears would soon o'erflow 
Already dimmed her sight; 

She cerid, Oh ! dear, can you forgive, 
The wrong I did that night? 

I reach for her my bony liands«A 

To help her on the floor; 
Her bosom pressed upon my breast. 

She kissed me o'er and o'er. 

We talked o'er all we had endured, 

Along the path of life; 
She living with a wicked man. 

And I without a wife. 



TAAT 8T0RMY KlOHf'. 67 

She bent her arms around me close, 

And rocked me by her side; 
And longed to see the happy day, 

When she could be my bride. 

The storm has ceased, the tree has gone, 

Long years passed o'er my head; 
Vre lived so long without a wife, 

1 have no thought to wed. 

Her tears ran down upon my vest, 

But it was all in vain ; 
My love for her forever gone. 

Could ne'er return again ! 



•o' 



A warning now to all young mai^s. 

Be sure that you are right ; 
Before you sack a loving beau, 

Upon a stormy night. 

She once was young, and handsome too, 

I'd say, a charming maid 
Destroyed her peace while life may last, 

By that word Ifo she said. 

Now I am old, my heart is hard. 

For thirty years well tried ; 
So I must spend my dreary daj^s, 

Without a lovely bride. 



68 THE illNG. — A BIRTHDAY VIJIW. 

THE RING. 

MY lovely'promised bride, 
This fine gold ring you see; 

I'll place it on your hand, 
To bind your love to me. 

"This costly ring now mine, 
It fits my finger too; 

Oft' as I gaze on it, 
My love, I'll think of you." 



A BIRTHDAY VIEW. 

I once was young, it's long ago, 
This day I'm sixty- three; 

And I stand here on this high hill. 
To write of things I see. 

I look out east, I see a town. 

Beyond the river side; 
And hills and vales back in the view, 

Extending far and wide. 

And still I gaze, and strain my eye, 
To see one thing more true ; 

And when the fog has cleared away, 
A mountain comes to view. 



A BIRTHDAY VIEW. fii,9 , 

I gaze upon its rocky side, 

Where storms beat wildly on ; 
High on that ridge long years ago, 

Oft' stood the spotted fawn. 

Its mountain springs send down the rills, 

Leaping o'er ledges high; 
I think of friends long past away, 

And stop to heave a sigh. 

Then turned my eyes some to the left, 

Westmoreland farms I see; 
And not one leaf in all my view, 

Hung on a forest tree. 

Some fields were plowed, and some wcr« green, 

Clad o'er with living wheat ; 
Through faith looked on, the time will oome, 

You may have bread to eat. 

Then turn my face towards the north, 

I saw a river wide; 
This lovely stream glides slowly on. 

By old Columbia's side. 

I raised my eyes, and still gazed on, 

The sun was shining bright ; 
Above the woods that shade the bluff, 

Horseshoe fields stand in sight. 

Beyond those fields far in my view, 

Some hills are towering high; 
Above I see unfading blue. 

The arch-way of the sky. 



70 OXE HOUR Li.TE. 

Wolf Harbour now I turn to view, 
With all its rocks and mounds; 

I think the fox is running there, 
To hide from cruel hounds. 

O'er hill and stream I still gaze on. 
Across the fields so grand; 

A turning some towards the left, 
To see my native land. 

Then gaze beyond North Maple Creek, 

Yet early in the morn; 
To see that long remembered spot, 

The place where I was born. 

And while I write, I still gaze on. 

To find some lonely spot; 
To weep o'er joys forever gone, 

Though ne'er to be forgot.' 

I drop my pen, and cease to write. 
My mind is running wild ; 

While I look back on three-score j^ears. 
When I was but a child. 



ONE HOUR LATE. 

NOW while I sit a lonely maid. 
My heart o'erflows with grief; 
, He always came the night he said. 
Oh ! what will give relief ? 



OVU HOUR LATE. 71 

Something is wrong, I awful' fear, 

What can he be about? 
That he don't come to see his dear, 

Oh I how shall I find out? 

I wrung my hands, I walked the floor, 

How awful it would be; 
If I should see my love no more, 

What would become of me? 

So ^eat began to be my fears. 
Death soon would seal my fate ; 

My eyes o'erflowed just then with tears, 
For it's just one hour late. 

The faintest hope does yet remain, 

Thinking, he yet may come; 
I turned my eyes upon the lane, 

I saw my lovely one. 

I left the house, and fast I ran. 

To stand just at the gate; 
And there I met my lovely man, 

If he was one^hour late. 

I said to him, why come so late. 

Was it my love to know? 
Wh}'' death almost had sealed my fate, 

My fears had grieved me so, 

O ! no, my dear, you should not fear, 

Your time is wrong, I know ; 
Just kiss me once, and dry your tear. 

And to the house we'll go. 



72 SUN, -MOON AND STARS. 

SUN, MOON AND STARS. 

THE sun sets down far in the West, 
As long lashed waves sink down to rest; 
But rise again, when storms beat on, 
The sun ascends in early morn. 

And Luna too, can change her face. 
The Stars we see shine in their place; 
The Planets too run their long round, 
Long years ago their course have* found. 

And morn and eve bring day and night; 
We look, and see, their time is right; 
This Earth with all its lovely plan, 
Was made to be a home for man. 

Man is the highest on the land, 
Just stands below the Angel Band; 
For all the beasts that range the field. 
Their stubborn will to man must yield. 



PARTING FROM HIS GIRL. 73 

PARTIMG FROM HIS GIRL. 

I give this ring, before I go, 

To you, my lovely maid; 
Long, as you wear this fine gold ring. 

Just think of me, I said. 

Though we be separated long, 

May your love still remain ; 
My only thoughts will be of you, 

'Till I come back again. 

Our parting now, I hope, wont be 

For many jea.rs to come; 
TiD afe home again return, 

To see my lovely one. 

Although my journey may be long, 

Two thousand miles away; 
I hope I may return again. 

Upon next Christmas day. 

I laid my arm around her waist, 

I kissed her tenderly ; 
These parting words to her I said : 

Don't grieve too sore for me. 



74 THE MA.RRIED MAX AKD THE BACHEtOR. 

THE MARRIED MAN AND THE BACHELOR 

ALONG the path that leads thro' life, 
All bachelors vralk without a wife — 
No earthly joys such life can give, 
When man without a wife will live I 

To wash his clothes, and bake his bread, 
Or lovely biad his aching head; 
If bad luck comes, how sore his grief. 
No wife's kind word to give relief I 

A married man enjoys this life. 
When walking with his lovely wife; 
Or' in the carriage by his side, 
Where man and wife can cheerful ride. 

Upon the lawn, where roses bloom. 
Or on the street in days in June; 
Or in the garden by her side. 
For she was once his lovely bride ! 

Picking berries of largest size. 
Then gazing on his wife's bright eyes; 
Her lovely smile gives rich return. 
His bosom then with love does burn ! 

Such earthly bliss in wedded life 
No man enjoys without a wife ! 
Bach' labors hard, till life shall end, 
And dies without a single friend ! 



THE MARRIED MAIT AND THE BACMSLOS. C^ 

No lovely one stands by his bier, 
To drop for him one mournful tear ! 
Relations then his wealth enjoy, 
I think such one a foolish boy ! 

He might have children of his own, 
Who could enjoy his cash and home; 
Preserve his name for future days, 
If he had sons to give him praise. 

If all men bachelors would be, 

In single life just to be free, 

Then misanthropes all maids should be. 

And hate all men that they may see. 

For sixty years to give no birth, 
Annihilate the total earth ; 
And if more years should run their round, 
No living soul could then be found. 

A bird might glance then with his eye, 
If he all round the earth could fly; 
No lady fair to give her hand. 
No bachelor to till the land ! 

This earth's a vast and awful plain, 
The curse of God comes on the man. 
For Heaven's laws does violate. 
Who lives thro' life without a mate I 



76 POBTRY. 

POETRY. 

A widow lives here in this town, 
That broke her arm, it was low down; 
That is her wrist, so I can tell, 
Some knew the place so very well. 

She shrieked and screamed at^top of voice. 
And Doctor Shep was then her choice 
To set the bone, and have it right, 
And bind it up all good and. tight. 

And visit her just once a day, 
Until the swelling is gone away; 
It seemed to be somewhat a joke. 
The fact was this : no bone was broke. 

This is a sly and cunning plan. 
To catch the Doctor for her man ; 
We wait to see, for time will tell. 
For what ends right, always ends well. 

The Doctor knew, it was not broke, 
Just bound it up to hide the joke; 
And came to see it once a day. 
Just as she wished, that was the way. 

Some other plan she thought more right, 
He quit at day and come at night; 
That in the dark she might not grieve, 
While sitting close to his coat sleeve. 



BAD COKIRACT. "^7 

BAD CONTRACT. 

ONE day, as I just walked the street, 
A handsome maid did chance to meet; 
I said to her, 3-0 u' re going home? 
"Yes, sir! she said, I walk alone." 

That must not be, just take my arm. 

To walk with me will be no harm; 

I set my arm for her so bold. 

She walked fight up, and then took hold. 

We passed along o'er dale and hill. 
The day was clear, the air was still; 
The road was good, the distance long. 
And, as we walked, our chat went on. 

In course of time sat down to rest, 
With a fine shade we there were blessed; 
I said: what goods are in that paper? 
^'She answered: they are for a caper. 

Then said: T will the truth confess, 
That is to be my wedding dress; 
Indeed I look to see my man, 
Armed to the teeth, that is his plan. 

If it should be, that you he see. 
Here in the shade along with me; 
For 3^our safety I much would fear. 
For death might soon end your career." 



78 ICf^BS 0« A MODWB. 

I broke for life right down the run, 
Thinking her man just then might come, 
I peeled my shins, and broke my nose, 
I strained both legs, and tore my clothes. 

Just now I am a used-up man. 
To say the best of this I can ; 
Next time that I do volunteer. 
To go along with some one's dear. 

The time, I think, will never come, 
I wish to see no more such fun; 
Came in the town just after night. 
Lest some might think, I'd had a fight. 



VINES ON A MOUND. 

I saw some vines grow on a mound, 
A handsome thing to have in town ; 
Each grows around a cotton thread. 
Their leaves are green down to the bed. 

They bore a pink so lovely fine, 
Most pleasing in the morning time; 
They lasted there just for one day. 
Their lovel}^ form then passed away. 

Just for one day they promised fair, 
Next morning, look, they are not there; 
They have fall'n down, lie on the bed, 
And other ones come in their stead. 



79 KLSires. 

Keep their beauty each day in view, 
Each morning pinks are fresh and new; 
They form a ring just round the bed, 
And coil so neatly to tile head. 

Lest you might name those vines all wrong, 
Their names I found in Jackson's song; 
When once he fought so fierce and brave, 
His countrys noble flag to save. 



SILENCE. 



THE fairest rose that blooms in May, 
In silence does it fade away; 
The leaves may rustle in the breeze. 
When they hang calm upon the trees. 

It is by sleep we take our rest. 

The sun sets silent in the west; 

We passed the dark long shades of night, 

In silence breaks the morning light 

To raise us from our beds of rest, 
We feel we were in silence blest; 
You find the place there is no ear, 
And silence reigns throughout the year. 

The pestilence of every kind, 
In silence moves, as you will find; 
Cuts down its victims in^the throng. 
Yet silently it moves along. 



CHILD OP TJilTDKR TKAfiS^. 

The battlefield with blood stained red, 
In silence holds the martyred dead, 
Their graves dug deep, down in the clay, 
Where they will long in silence lay. 

Let not our light go out at noon, 
How dark and silent is the tomb; 
0! may we be right on the way, 
That we in silence pass away. 



CHILD OF TENDER YEARS. 

FAIR child of tender years. 
May blessings crown your head; 

Though in jour eyes some tears, 
While you lie on your bed. 

May you not bloom to fade. 
Like roses plucked from land; 

When on the mantle laid. 
Or wither in th6 hand. 

I gaze upon a maid. 

When eighteen years have gone; 
Can this be Jose? I said. 

Just as she pased along. 

Oh ! yes, it is, she said, 
I've heard my mother say ; 

When on my bed I lay. 

That you we?e there one day. 



song: the SCOTTISH MAID. 81 

Oil ! what a lady fair, 

I see in her to be; 
Her charming eyes are bright, 

As any maid's you see. 

She walks upon the street, 

Some lovely beau to find ; 
I hope that she will meet, 

Some one to please her mind. 

And may her life be sweet. 

For many years to come; 
A charming man to meet, 

A kind and loving one. 



SONG : The Scottish Maid. 

MY loving friends, it is to you, 
I soon must bid a long adieu ; 
At your fire-side no more I'll be, 
A home I seek beyond the sea. 

The time has come for me to go, 
Their love for me they then did show; 
The day was calm to quell my fears. 
Though from my eyes dropped many tears. 

I shook their hands, and kissed them too, . 
And bade to them a long adieu; 
The hour had come, the steam was high, 
To Scottish shores I bade good-bye. 



82 SONG : THE SCOTTISH MAID. 

The engines pla}^ with all their might, 
And Scotland's hills recede from sight; 
I looked for land with longing eyes, 
When none I found, I gave some sighs. 

The captain in his place he stands. 
In time of need to give commands ; 
With manly face and eagle eye. 
To watch the compass and the sk3^ 

My grief and fears slow passed aWaj^, 

I trust in Him who rules the day; 

His mighty arm can rule the wave, 

Tho' storms may rage, our bark He'll save. 

And land me on the shore some daj^, 
The land they call America; 
In fifteen daj^s we came to land, 
My joy how great on deck I stand. 

I leave the ship and go ashore, 
On terra Jirma stand once more; 
• Then from New York by rail I came, 
To Pittsburgh in one day we ran. 

I'm off the cars — received no harm, 
I meet my love with outstretched arm ; 
I'm ready now, for j^our embrace. 
Long way I've come to see your face. 

.Your presence drives away all fears, 
My joy, so great, o'erflows with tears; 
In love's embrace one moment stand. 
For you I left my native land. 



UNION.— ^OXLY DAUGHTER. 

My home and friends I left for thee, 
And crossed the fearful, raging sea; 
Went many miles o'er this strange land. 
To give to 3^ou my heart and hand. 



UNION. 



WHEN spring spreads her green livery on. 
imit May grows flowers all ov'r the lawn, 
I love to roam ov'r hill and dale, 
Sleep sound to the song of nightingale, 
With gentle breezes, so soft and low, 
You enjoj" yourself with your dear beau. 

When fruit is ripe, 'tis. easy shaken. 
Our hearts desire to be partaking; 
Union, whi:ch has been long the struggle^ 
Is made almost without a bubble. 
Made by long contracting, without strife^ 
Complete through all our journey of life. 



ONLY DJIUGHTEH. 

A youthful maid, and handsome too, 
To Scotland's coast has bid adieu; 
No friends that's dear to leave behin^d, 
To grieve in tears she need not mind. 



ACROSTIC. 



Has no sister, has no brother, 
She crossed the ocean with her mother; 
To meet her father in a strange land, 
With dauojhter's love to shake his hand. 



o 



Was met by him, while on the way. 
He brought them to California; 
Now, safe at home, across the water, 
Papa's andmama's only daughter. 



ACROSTIC. 



THAT morning calm as it could be, 
I>Ay we walked out fine flowers to see; 
.Of all flowers that's in the land, 
Bliss was the one stuck to my hand. 
When we came to a lovely shade. 
Shall we stop here my charming maid? 
I wish to stop, she said to me, 
See here's my hair floating too free. 

That it be right, take no alarm. 
You with right hand hold to my arm ; 
And I will comb it for you fair, 
t am the one to dress your hair. 
As it is now, both neat and fair. 
One lovely kiss for me do spare; 
May future days exceed all this. 
Be by my side to give a kiss. 



FORSAKEN HOUSE. 85 

In all our walks, she said, would be 
One hand be placed as now on thee; 
Month after month, years pass away, 
Now we'll walk back while it is day. 
The ofternoon is passing on. 
Time will not wait on lover's long; 
Will you stop here with me tO'uight? 
Come in, do come, it yet is light. 

When we walked in, 3'our hat, she said, 
You know I am your loving maid; . 
And I will now, the supper cook, 
I love the walk that we just took. 
Will all your days be i)eace with me. 
Be happy as below the tree; 
As long as life may with us last, 
One stream of love as in the past. 



FORSAKEN HOUSE. 

FORSAKEN house, no lady there 

Upon the lawn to tread; 
For it's grown o'er with filthy weeds, 

And has no flower bed. 

The garden too in ruin lies, 
Resembles much the lawn ; 

Some lovely things I once left there, 
Hook, and they are gone. 



FORSAKEN HOUSE. 

I vain the rose-bush there would grow, 

To bear so rich a bloom; 
No lady's hand is ever there, 

To pluck in May or June. 

The peafowl there no more display, 

Thir glossy spotted tail; 
And songs of birds that once were sweet, 

Have long since turned to wail. 

No charming maid with sweetest voice. 

Her songs of love to sing; 
Nor walks the path, with pail in hand, 

A going to the spring. 

No little ones upon the green, 

To dance around the trees ; 
Or peep out through the lattice fence, 

As fanned b}' summer's breeze. 

The sparrow too has gone away, 

No crumbs for it to eat; 
And man and wife at close of day, 

No more in love they meet. 

I passed the house, slow was my step, 
With one long gaze looked back ; 

It stands just like a weeping maid. 
Its front draped o'er in black. 

Four cedar trees upon the lawn. 
Like watchmen yet they stand ; 

No pruning now do they receive, 
Or care from human hand. 



FORSAKEN HOUSE. 87 

The screaming owls perch on their boughs, 

In safety through the night; 
And gaze out through their pointed leaves, 

When moon is shining briofht. 

One lonesome dove without a mate, 

Sat on the willow. tree; 
As I passed on, then she did sing. 

Her mournful song to me. 

The fox may prowl there in the night, 

No poultry for his prey; 
And canter on hungry and lean. 

Till morning dawns for day. 

Vile reptiles, now in summer time. 

Take it for their abode; 
For it's forsaken long by man, 

Because it has no road. 

Desolation ! Desolation ! 

Oh! that once favored spot; 
With skilful hands I built that house. 

In ruins now to rot. 

How man}^ j^ears are yet to come 

And pass forever on, 
E're that sad spot may smile again, 

With ladies on the lawn. 



88 AT UNCLE JIM's HOUSE. 

AT UNCLE JIM'S HOUSE. 

GOOD supper we had eat, 
For bountiful the fare; 

Aunt sits down to rest, 
Upon her easy chair. 

Two girls came in the room, 
And I was seated there; 

Then I rose to my feet, 

And each one took a chair. 

Ladies sit down to rest. 

For your day's work is done; 

And listen to this piece, 
That we may have some fun. 

Now here is Uncle Jim 
And he is old and kind ; 

Fox hunter all his life, 
It's folly he will find. 

He is a President, 

Of a good Saving Bank; 

Has lots of land and cash. 
And stands in foremost rank. 

His body bent with age. 
His sight is getting dim; 

As oft' as I come round, 
I always stop with him. 



AT UNCLE JIM's HOUSE. 89 

Now, Aunt, I'll say to you, 

I've seen you young and gay; 
Now many years of care, 

Show on your face today! 

For many years have gone. 

And long you have been kind; 
Whoever may stop here, 

Your charity will find. 

You have two daughters here, 

Now they are young and gay; 
The rosy hue of health. 
Shows on their face to-day. 

Dear girls, in hope look on, 

Your youthful days yet last; 
Great blessings wait for you. 

Far greater than the past. 

Thej'' linger on your path, 

Be sure, dont miss your wa}^; 
And time will come I hope, 

You'll see a happy day. 

You have two boys at home, 

They live a single life; 
They should lookout in time, 

And each one take a wife. 

I worked upon your lawn. 

Your daughters worked with me; 
We raised some grassy mounds, 
This side the cedar tree 



90 AT UNCLE JIm's HOUSE. 

And set some pinks thereon, 
To blossom in the spring; 

While on the cedar tree, 

Sweet birds may 'sit and sing. 

We made some fancy beds, 
A rose on each one set; 

Along the flowery path, 

Wh^re maid and man oft' step. 

^To walk upon the lawn, 
A a fine summer day; 
Pluck Dianthus pinks, 
And bear them far away. 

Those pinks, the girls and I 

About one year ago 
Just set them near the house, 

To have a lovely show. 

And I rejoice to-day, 

To see them grow so fair; 

Aunt was at work with us. 
When we transplanted there. 

Those other pinks that shine. 
Are from the mountain top; 

And I those fancy roses. 
From my own garden brought* 

Two are the scarlet rose, 
And two the fancy dime ; 

Two are variegated, 

Their stripes and petals shine. 



AT UNCLE JIM S HOUSE 

And two the lady's blush, 

Almost a lillj- white; 
For when you gaze at them, 

You'll see their tints are light. 

And one a vining rose, 

We set it on the lawn ; 
May it grow and blossom, 

To fill a place in song. 

And one, a lonely flower. 

Its name I will not tell, 
Like weeping o'er some one. 

To bid a long farewell. 

Each side the portico, 

We made the little beds; 
May poppies grow on them, 

To blush and bow their heads. 

And on each side the walk, 
The boarder flags there stand; 

They're set fair in two rows, 
Done by a lady's hand. 

Patent catch holds the gate. 

Two trees like guards there stand; 

There is the rose of Sharon, 
The fairest in the land. 

This ornamental lawn. 

Oh! may it bloom out fair; 

With ladies oft' on it, 
To dress, and for it care. 



92 CALIFORlflA. 

Girls, when you pluck a rose, 
To make a sweet bouquet, 

Think of the day we planted them, 
Though it be far away. 

Dress up those beds and mounds, 
And keep them looking fine; 

For I may not be here, 
In balmy summer time. 

^ Oft' gazing on the mounds, 

And when they're getting dry. 
Just pour the water on, 
And recollect Sol Fry. 

I am the man that worked, 
With ladies on the lawn; 

May pinks and roses bloo'm. 
Long after I am gone. 



CALIFORNIA. 

FROM far down east a Dutchman came, 
To give this place an awful name; 
By book learning in warm weather. 
Town Council he brought together. 

The Trustees of the Normal School, 
He used them, too, just for a tool; 
A man beyond the borough lines. 
To go to work in such hard times. 



DEATH OF SAGAMORE. 93 

He took our name so dearly bought, 
And gave us one that's good for naught; 
He worked the things up to a T, 
And sent it down to one George V, 

And George, just like a kind good man, 
Looked all around, and o'er the plan; 
Of one thing though, he never thought. 
The cursed thing was ill begot. 

Some say of George, nothing can fail, 
He sent it east just by the mail; 
Postmaster General, then he got. 
The ill devised and wicked plot. 

And he like George, thought it was right, 
It came so neat in black and white; 
Post-office now, has a new name. 
Say what you please, it is a shame. 

If Job were now a living man, 
I soon could hear him curse the plan ; 
Once fine of name, now Sagamore — 
Our town's sad fate we long deplore. 



DEATH OF SAGAMORE. 

POOR Sagamore, for months, 

Had been sinking fast; 
Its friends now grieving sore. 

For it is dead at last ! 



94 CALIFORNIA AGAIN 

Its life was very sh'ort. 

No place it ever knew; 
Some tried to doctor it, 

But found it would not do! 

No yearling it could be, 

Ten months just marked its time ; 
I only wrote it here. 

Just to keep up the rhyme. 



CALIFORNIA AGAIN. 

CALIFORNIA our town's first name, 

Again has taken its place; 
Rude is the hand, and vile the man, 

That would that name erase. 

With men of minds, and men of means. 

Mechanics by their skill. 
This fair bottom, though long and wide, 

A city yet may fill. 

Long as the sun shines on the earth, 

Trees cast a shadow fair; 
May this town grow, and become great, 

With its first name to bear! 



THE LITTLE GIRL AT SCHOOL. 95 

THE LITTLE GIRL AT SCHOOL. 

WHEN I was young at school, 

I saw a little girl; 
Her eyes were blue and bright. 

Her teeth as white as pearl. 

It was one day at noon, 

When I was at the spring; 
I saw her lovely smile, 

And heard her sweetly sing. 

This maid stood by the brook, 

Just on a bank of sand; 
And I stood by the spring. 

With water in my hand. 

I threw some drops, and some 

Fell on the little maid: 
Oh ! what a boy for fun. 

The little maid then said. 

She cast her eyes at me. 

And also her I gazed; 
Her little form so fair, 

That I stood there amazed. 

Then kindly said to her, 

"0! do forgive me, Siss; 
And I will throw no more, 

Nor do waht is amiss!" 



96 THE LITTLE GIRL AT SCHOOL. 

Then we drank together, 
There at the crystal spring ; 

And oft' I saw her smile, 
And heard her sweetly sing. 

As we went on to school, 
Our love increased each day; 

But ere I came to be a man, 
Was forced to go away. . 

Was bound to learn a trade. 
Far in this distant land; 

Oh ! how I long to see, 
The maid on yonder stand! 

When I go home again, 
I'll take her by my side ; 

And she will be to me, 
A sweet and lovely bride. 

We'll walk along the path. 
That leads the way thro' life ; 

For she will be to me, 
A kind and lovely wife. 

We'll sing the song again, 
We often used to sing; 

A walking on the path, 
When going to the spring. 

I'll magnify her charms. 
Her faults all over-look ; 

And call to mind the day. 
We stood there by the brook. 



FIVE LITTLE GIRLS. 97 



I'll pour the water on, 
Her lilly fair white hands; 

For she can make my bread, 
And bake it in the pans. 

ril dress her neat and fine, 
A lady she must be; 

For while I have a cent, 
I'll spend it for her free. 



FIVE LITTLE GIRLS. 

Five girls walked up the hill, — 
The grass was wet with rain; 

To show to me the way. 
So 1 could find the lane ; 

Then ran along the road, 
Their little feet were bare; 

Some of the drops of rain. 
Fell on their glossy hair. 

And still they scampered on, 
Like lamb's ere close of day; 

And I rejoiced to see 
The little maids so gay. 

I bade good-bye to them. 
Then they returned for home; 

And I went on my way, 
A walking all alone. 



ox mv FLOWRT LAWN. 

I'll ne'er forget the girls 

I saw that rainy day; 
They were so kind to me, 

They led me on the way. 

May they remember him 

They led along the way; 
Each one grow lovel}^ fair, 

To see a happy day. 

And may they live till age 

May crown their heads with grey ; 
And talk about Sol Fry 

They saw that rainy day. 



ON THE FLOWRY LAWN. 

ONE anxious day to me, 
By my side stood a maid; 

Under the Cherry Tree, 
To have a lovel}' shade. 

Now we start on the path, 
Across the flowry lawn ; 

We lovely talk and smile. 
And slowly walk along. 

"You see that rose in bloom? 

I own you are more fair; 
The balmy winds of June 

Are playing with your hair" 



OSr THE FLOWKY L4WN. 9^ 

The rose for her I got, 

She sought its rich perfume; 
Then by the path we stood, 

On the tenth day of June. 

*'Your smiles more rich to me, 

Than roses on the lawn; 
Though many yet I see, 

But some of them are gone. 

"Your eyes that shine so bright, 

They are so lovely too ; 
I own, they charm me right. 

Oft' as I gaze at you. 

*'A question now in time. 

And I will pop it here; 
As it keeps up the rhyme^ 

Say! will yon be my dear?" 

"If you will promise me. 

To love me long as life. 
Then I will answer 3'ou, 

To be your loving wife. 

*'Yes, while Tm standing here, 

You lovely by my side, 
I'll bind myself up fair. 

If you will be my bride." 

"The wedding now came soon, 

For we will set the da}^; 
The twenty-fourth of June 

Drive single cares away. 



100 -A- BACHELOR. 

The day we set came round, 
I took her by the hand; 

And many friends stood round, 
To form a happy band. 

I took her for my wife. 
The ring put on her hand; 

To love her all my life, 

This promise now shall stand. 

-Her promises were fair. 
To be a loving wife; 
The preacher standing there, 

Said: **live in peace through life." 



A BACHELOR. 

A bachelor of full two-scores, 

One time to me just said: 
"Fry, as you walk the country o'er, 

Just find for me a inaid. 

"Of thirty years, or may be more, 

No odds about her hair; 
Must walk quite straight jh6r limbs all sound. 

No limping round a chair. 
"Her eyes be black, or ma}^ be blue. 

Or may be hazel brown ; 
You may her find upon a farm. 

Or somewhere in a town. 



A BACHELOR. 

"I Irish to live like other men, 

That have a loving wife, 
To bake their bread and patch their clothes, 

And live with them through life. 

A good peach-orchard she may have, 

I'll love her still the best; 
And a good piece for meadow ground. 

And I could farm the rest. 

That's just a little farm, you know, 

With hundred acres blest; 
And if we work 'till we get tired. 

The chance is good to rest. 

I wish to do the best I can, 

A looking in this way ; 
To find a wife to suit this man. 

Her hair be striped with gray. 

Some wrinkles in her brow I'd see, 

Her cheeks some paled by age; 
If I could find him such a one, 

I think, he'd find the cage. 

I've sought with care to find a maid, 

Such as described to me ; 
III all my tramps in looking round. 

No maid like her I see. 

Poor man! I see his chance is slim. 

To live a happy life, 
He has already lived too long, 

Without a loving wife. 



101 



102 ' M06BT noCjf . 

MOSSY ROCIC. 

HIGH on mount, one morn in May, 

Sweet Isabel and I; 
Sat gazing at the golden clouds 

A hanging on the sky. 

We sat upon a mossy rock, 
Beside the rugged steep; 
She gazed down the long ravine, 
^ And she began to weep. 

I said, my love what grieves you so. 

Is this a fearful spot? 
We are so high, the air too rare? 

I'm here — then tremble not ! 

She said : let us walk back again, 

Along the path we came! 
No longer sit upon this rock. 

Some pity now I claim. 

This rock might move, then w'd go down, 

How fearful is this spot I 
I wish to sit no longer here, 

Upon this mossy rock! 

Then let me help you on your feet. 

And wdwill leave the spot; 
And come no more on this high mount, 

To sit upon the rock. 



MOSSY HOCK. 10-3 

Then as we walked far on the path, 

And down the mountain side, 
One question now, as we are safe, 

Sfty, pray, will you be my bride? 

If you will promise fair to me, 

A level path through life ; 
Without a rock so high to sit. 

Then I will be your wife. 

Your path through life be smooth and fair. 

Upon the level plane ; 
No more we'll climb the mountain top, 

To sit up there again. 

And still we walkep on down the path, 

To reach the level plane; 
Rejoicing o'er the danger past. 

That's ne'er to come again, 

And when her home was just in sight, 

We slowly walked the way ; 
One charming smile she cast on me, 

And set the happy day. 

It seems to me the time is long! 

Must four months yet pass round 
Before that we can join our hands, 

In wedlock to be bound? 

"In peace and love I will submit, 

I know you have the right; 
For when that happy day will come, 

The peaches will be ripe ! 



104 COURTING ON THE 8LT. 

And we will walk the orchard through, 

The fairest fruit to find; 
And I will give the best to you, 

Your love to me to bind. 

And may our days as happy be, 

As now upon this plane; 
For we will climb no more that mount, 

To sit up there again. 



COURTIIBG ON THE SLY. 

THE way to catch a maid. 

Is to court her easy ; 
And never let her know, 

That you are nearly crazy. 

Take her to a singing. 

Or take her to a dance; 
And if you can endure it. 

Sometimes just miss a chance. 

Buy her some fancy ribbons, 
That she would love to wear; 

Or some fine costly pins, 
To help hold up her hair. 

Sometimes just give a call, 
Sometimes stay over night, 

Let on it's little odds, 

If things go wrong or right. 



COURTINa ON THE SLY 105 

Just praise her other beau, 

And never show a frown; 
You can not help to hate them. 

But keep your dander down! 

Just talk of going easfe, 

A lady there to find; 
And if she loves you well, 

She'll say : "Oh! never mind!" 

Then you]^have caught her fair. 

But never let her know, 
That you have found it out, 

You ape her lovely beiau. 

And say before you leave her, 

"I hope, it's not in vain; 
If life and health are spared me. 
May I come back again?" 

Then she will set the day. 

And you come smiling round; 
But never disappoint her, 

Or you'll be loosing ground. 

Just kiss her on the hand. 

Or on one side the face; 
And if she loves you well. 

She'll give a better place. 

Converse about some weddings. 

Then gaze her in the eyes; 
And if they gain in brightness. 

You've won a lovely prize* 



Iir tSK MAP&S StlA^K. 

Let her swing on your arm, 
And walk upon the lawn ; 

You may popp the question. 
Just as you walk along ! 



IN THE MAPLE SHADE. 

ONCE I was with my lovely maid, 
A walking in the maple shade; 
Of sugar trees all out injeaf, 
I sang to her so Bw6et and brief. 

Of happy days I passed in life^ 
Since I looked out to find a wife, 
My future joys I hope will be 
Placed on the maid that walks with me. 

Hung to my arm, she walked along, 
She said: do sing, OI do sing on; 
I answered : dear, it is to you, 
My song of love I will sing through. 

That happy day, when will it shine. 
When all your jojs will blend in mine? 
"She said : I now will set the day, 
To drive prospecting songs away. 

My wedding clothes are ready now. 
In one week more, we'll take the vow; 
The tenth of May, when days are long, 
That day will end j'our roving song. 



60NJ». 1®7 

GONE. 

JOYS brighten, then they leave, 

For they will not stay long; 
Look back for j^outhful days, 

They are forever gone. 

Some days we've seen that pleased, 

And longed to see them stay; 
We now look back, but they 

Forever passed away. 

* 'Passing away," is marked 

On everything we see, 
From childhood up to man, 

Alas! our moments flee! 

No human power can. 

Those passing events stay; 
When we look back for friends, 

By death they've passed away. 

Brightest days will leave. 

Too beautiftil to last; 
We wish to gaze again, 

But they are in the past. 

Roll back ye wheels of time, 

To bring one youthful day! 
The echo sounds out plain, 

Your youth has passed away. 



108 GONE. 

All things, both grand and great, 
And people fine and gay; 

In course of time they will 
Forever pass away. 

A man may gain Applause, 
And laurels he may wear; 

Then, in the course of time, 
With common people share. 

The hoary-headed sage. 
His feet upon the hearth; 

His time is short, to go 
The way of all the earth. 

The glory of mankind, 

Kingdoms and powers waste ; 

Ere long passing away, 
And others fill their place. 

Rome, mistress of the earth. 
Her mighty scepter swayed; 

We look again to see. 

Now in the dust she's laid. 

Her glory is all gone 

And all her splendor passed; 
Kingdoms will crumble down. 
Earth's powers can not last. 

Greece, once in grand array. 
Fine cities towering high; 

Up through the ether clear, 
Towards the azure sky. 



GONE. 109 

Her paintings, too, excel 

In all that's grand and gay;. 
The hands that painted them, 

Have long since passed away. 

Where are her cities now, 

And monuments so high? , 

They've crumbled down to dust. 

In ruins there they lie. 

Her heroes, too, were great. 
They fought with fiercest rage; 

And statesmen, too, have gone, 
Their acts wrote on the page. 

Her sages and her poets. 

And orators that spoke; 
Philosophers of note, 

Historians that wrote — 

The}'- fired intellect, 

Those truths are passing on; 
They reach from age to age. 

Those mighty men are gone. 

How solemn, and how sad. 

Gone! gone! foreyer gone! 
No hundred years can pass. 

Till all of us have gone. 



lit »B1|?0 BACK Wt LOTELY pKE. 

BRING BACK NY LOVELY ONE. 

The sun was shining bright, 
Though night was coming on; 

A young tree transplanted, 
Just there upon the lawn 

It was my love and I, 

Just early in ths spring; 
We stood there by the tree, 

And sweetly she did sing. 

And then she said to me, 
"The time will shortly come; 

That I sing here again, 
And be your loving one." 

Alas ! now we're parted, 

She's many miles away; 
And often times I think. 

Of that lovely spring day, 

I hope, she'll soon come back. 

To sing her song to me ; 
Then I would stand by her. 

Just near that little tree. 

. Roll oh, ye wheels of time, 
That maid I long to see; 
When I can press her hand. 
And set her on my knee. 



FADBD. Ill 



Or walk upon the lawn, 
And kiss her tenderly; 

And tell her tales of love, 
While gazing on the tree. 

That happy day, she said, 
Ere long will surely come; 

Oh I hasten on the day, 
Bring back my lovely one. 



FADED. 



WHEN she was young, a handsome maid, 
I saw e'en then that she would fade ; 
Ts it from weight of many years? 
Oh ! not on this, was placed my fears. 

She used the dust made from a leaf, 
The poison spread then from her teeth ; 
And through her flesh, in every vein, 
You there could trace its poison stain. 

The lilly and the rosy hue. 
They bid to her a long adieu; 
Those lovely tints have lefty her face, 
And yellow spots came in their place. 

Her cheeks, that were once plump and fair. 
Are lean, but not from years of care, 
Not many years can roll along, 
Until in death she's past andjgone. 



112 PEACE AND LOVE. 

Young ladies take a warning now, 
Against such dust just make a vow; 
And always keep jour vow in mind, 
To use no dust that's of that kind. 



PEACE AND LOVE. 

ALL maids that wish to live, 

The wedded life in peace; 
Should judge now at one glance. 

By features in the face. 

"Will you be kind through life?" 
Oft' says this lovely maid; 

Beaux answer : "yes" to please, 
But "No!" some should have said. 

And men should judge the same, 

Before they take a wife; 
For frowns upon the face. 

Ma}' trouble them through life. 

The maid that oft' 3'ou see, 
With frowns upon her face; 

If she become a wife. 
No smiles can take their place. 

The maid that man should choose, 

Be of a loving kind; 
Oft' gaze among the maids, 

For such a one to find. 



PEACE AND LOVE, J IS 



With young maids I found one, 
And with old maids found two, 

That have no love for rhymes, 
That kind won't do for you. 

Their smiles are from deceit, 
For misanthropes you'll find; 

You may use them the best. 
To you, they'll not be kind. 

No bump for love you'll find, 
With them jou should not pair; 

You may rue all your life, 
When once they're in your care. 

While friend with friend faUs out, 
And lives in peace again ; 

Not so with man and wife, 
First love can ne'er regain. 

And ladies oft' may pout. 

When their beaux' acts they see; 
But smile again, if kissed. 

While sitting on their knee. 

And beaux may frown at belles, 
For acts they think are wrong; 

Aud then forgive again, 
Just as they walk along. 

A quarrel 'twixt man and wife, 

As long as life remain; 
No odds how kind their acts, 

Can ne'er wipe out the stain. 



114 ' PEACE AND LOVE. 

The man who has once said, 
Cruel things of his wife; 

Her love in full can not, 
Return through all her life. 

The woman who has used, 
Reproach once to her man; 

To take her lovingly. 
In his arms never can; 

Some little roots are left. 
That soon msij grow to strife; 

And raise some bitter words^ 
Betwixt the man and wife. 

Now ten-fold more would be, 
The i^arting man and wife; 
Children* bind together, 
*Yet live unhappy life. 

Just listen now to me, 

Oh ! m.auy while I may say; 

No odds what may turn-up; 
Just live in peace each day. 

A paradise on earth. 

To live in peace through life^ 
Caressed with lovely sruiles. 

From a kind and loving wife, ; 

And wife I say to you,,. 

Let love guard all vour way; 
That you may live in peace^ 

And see a, harppy da3\ 



EXTRAVAGANT. 115 

And'teacii your children too, 

For to observe the same; 
That they enjoy the bliss, 

As long as life remain. 

And hand it down to those, 

That may be yet to come; 
For to observe this rule. 

It is a lovely one. 

Eolling 3^ears stop their course, 

All but love pass awaj; 
Love universal reigns, 

That long etei-nal day. 



EXTRAVAGANT. 

FIVE hours spent to iron a dress, 
Five irons hot the skirts to press; 
Two ladies working hard and fast, 
Long as the heat in irons last. 

What tedious work ! some girls would say. 
To work upon a dress that way; 
Some twenty minutes, or half hour, 
Should iron it neat as any flower. 

But some ladies would now say naught, 
It takes so many irons hot ; 
The sleeves and ruffles must be neat, 
And all the flounces ironed complete. 



116 EXTRAVAGANT* 

The common skirt you know is large, 
The model skirt is next in charge; 
The fancy skirt next you will find, 
With many folds tucked up behind. 

And jockey skirt I most forgot, 
Must work on it with iron hot; 
And smooth it well, if not the best, 
You know it hangs above the rest. 

And now the waist, and next the breast, 
The folds and gores must well be pressed; 
And then the back, some gathers there, 
Must labor long to make them fair. 

Extravagant in dressing so, 
It seems to me it scares the beaux; 
Would make a poor man trembling stand, 
> To take a lady by the hand. 

And labor hard through all his life. 
To find the clothes to dress his wife; 
Reform! reform! young ladies fair, 
Do not put on such costly wear. 

Curtail the skirts one at a time, 
And waste of stuff tucked up behind; 
And one brength less in common skirt, 
And never let it drag the dirt. 

Throw off your bustle,- let it bounce, 
Some ruffles to with the flounce; 
And many maids yet may find, 
A kind good man to please their mind. 



POPP THE QUESTION. DIRECTIONS. 117 

POPP THE QUESTION. 

Popp the question, an easy thing, 

If bashful m«n would learn to sing.— Zonff Meier. 

THE shining moon has rose so high, 
It casts its shadow from the tree; 

With you my love I'm seated nigh, 
Oh ! may your love be all for me. 

Your lovely ringlets, neat and long, 
Your charming voice is svreet and fine; 

You are the lady of my song, 
I long to know if you are mine. 

If you will bless me in this life, 
Just hint it now, this is the time; 

That I may know you'll be my wife. 
Just press your ruby lips to mine. 



DEAR girls this shrub transplant with care, 
That it may grow and flourish fair; 
*Just near the walk in mellow ground. 
Then you two maids should oft' come round, 

To water it when dew it needs. 
And dress it round, keep down the weeds; 
The time will come when it will bloom, 
To show to you its rich perfume. 



lis SONG OF PRAISE. 

Then you two belles with pink in hand, 
There in the walk together stand ; 
Upon the bush you ladies gaze, 
And sing for it one song of praise. 



SONG OF PBASSE. 

OF all the flowers that I can think, 
None so pleasing rich in jjerfume ; 

As this red, sweet Dianthus pink. 

So lovely in months of May and June, 

Now if I had no ground to spare, 

To plant one shrub so gay and sweet, 
I'd swing a box up in the air, 

And have one grow in it complete. 

\i 

To scent with them,, my finest clothes. 
And the ribbon bought for my head; 

And that would bring the kind of beaux, 
That aY\y maid would love to wed. 



THE FLOWERS PRAISE. — LADIES' SMILES. 119 

THE FLOWERS PRAISE. 

I'M sitting now without a shade, 

To perish here at noon; 
When summer days come long and hot, 

ril wither down in June. 

While in my grief a lady fair, 

And through her love for me 
Transplanted here at my south-side, 

A 3'oung Juniper tree. 

Isow I will grow, and blossom too, 

I have a lovely sh^de. 
To guard me from the scorching sun, 

Set b}^' a lovely maid. 

And she may puck my blossoms now. 

With her lilly white hand; 
Among the ladies that are fair. 

She's fairest in the land. 



LADIES' SENILES. 

A lady's smiles fill well their place. 
Some ladies' acts outshine their face; 
For if their acts be kind through life. 
They make a kind, dear loving wife; 
For smiles that's give by a kind wife, 
Illuminate man's path through life. 



120 MARBLE SHOP- 

MARBLE SHOP. 

ONE time, in town, I chanced to stop, 
In Gee and Sons' great marble shop; 
Some men were working at the trade, 
Where costly monuments are made. 

To mark the place of sleeping dead, 
Or marble slabes to guard their bed; 
Sometimes employ a score of hands, 
.To meet their customers demands. 

Their finest work in bold relief. 
Such as a book without a leaf; 
Or blooming rose, on bush to stand, 
Or blacksmith's hammer in their hand. 

Or little lamb to quiet lay, 
Through winter's frost and summer's day; 
Or gentle dove cut on the stone. 
Without a mate to mourn alone. 

And curtains folded back to see. 
The letters cut by Mr. Gee; 
Whate'er you wish, write out your plan, 
They'll work for you cheap as they can. 



IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. 121 

IB^ ALLEGHENY COUNTY. 

BEFORE I roam this countj^ o'er, 

Or walk across the land; 
James Wall's high hill I long to see, 

And on its summit stand. 

At Mr. Wall's I then put up,! 

And stay with him o'er night; 
And after breakfast I walk on. 

The hill soon comes in sight. 

An eastern maid then walked with me, 

With raven tresses fine; 
And as we slowly climbed the hill, 

I saw them dance and shine. 

Her form was neat, her features fair, 
Her charming eyes were bright; 

And still we clamber on and up, 
To see the lovely sight. 

In course of time we reach the place, 

That long desired spot; 
This hill is long, from east to west, 

But narrow on the top. 

I gaze far down upon the vale, 

My ej^es to satisfy; 
Then on the hill, next in the view. 

The eastern maid stood by. 



122 ' IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. 

And long she gazed upon the farms, 
Their fields clad o'er, with green: 

And Jong admired their deep cut vales, 
Where runs the glittering stream. 

Some villages peep round the hill, 
Farm houses here and there; 

With evergreens set on the lawns, 
To make the scene more fair, 

" And flocks and herds upon the hills, 
A grazing o'er the green; 
And shade trees standing here and there; 
To liven up the scene. 

Then turning, still we gaze upon, 

The hills a towering high ; 
Beyond those hills, far on and up 

A mountain met the sky. 

Now from that mount to this hill top, 
Some thousand farms are spread; 

We're looking now towards the east, 
What men and beasts they've fed! 

What thousands there have lived and died. 
And gone to their long home! 

The many friends they left behind, 
And some haA'e yet to moan. 

Across those hills the red man's path. 
On it oft' times they've tread; 

But now the path we see no more — 
For they have long since fled. 



IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. 123 

And animals of many kinds, 

The buffalo and deer; 
And many fowls to suit the clime, 

The turkey yet is here. 

This landscape spread before our eyes, 

With many hundred hills; 
And at their base, though out of sight, 

Ran down the gushing rills. 

And long I gazed upoit the scene, 

The eastern maid still nigh; 
My mind ran back to youthful days, 

I bowed my head to sigh. 

Then we return the way we came, 

On down and down we go; 
Until we reach the starting point. 

Far in the vale below. 

I bade that fair and cheerful maid 

A long and kind farewell; 
How fortune may jGt favor her. 

Is more than I can tell. 



124 CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS. 

TO hail this merry happy day, 
The people come from every way; 
Here old and young can lovely meet, 
And stand around this board to eat. 

The choicest that earth afford, 
So bountiful set on this board; 
For we are blessed in such a wsiy, 
We celebrate this Christmas day. 

Some children here, some heads near white, 
And some young maids with faces bright; 
And some young men from far a way. 
Have left their homes, come here to-day. 

Alas ! alas ! I dare not say, 

That we all meet next Christmas day ; 

This happy day to us is one, 

Next Christmas day some may not come. 

Year on year may roll away. 
No more we meet just like to-day; 
Some will be gone, some can not come, 
Ere this day's passed this meeting done. 

May all enjoy this happy day. 

From childhood up to heads that's gray; 

As time rolls on we pass away, 

Oh ! may we meet a brighter day. 



BERRY STATION, 125 

BERBY STATilSii. 

I saw a maid in grief one day, 
And longed so hear what she would say; 
But there she stood in silence long, 
I could not tell just what was wrong. 

It was in berry tim« of year, 
And I was anxious for to hear; 
At last her words the silence broke, 
I saw the wrong soon as she spoke. 

Well papa and mamma, I declare, 
Tt is no use for me to swear; 
I'd rather live some other way. 
This berry business does not pay. 

Its such a waste of things that's good. 
To feed them as they know we could; 
We have no time a tune to play. 
As other girls have every day. 

For from the time the fruit turns red. 
All of the hungry must be fed; 
Why every one that comes from town, 
Comes here. as hungry a a hound. 

Some people here from far away, 
And still come on, some every day ; 
Many come with bucket and tub, 
Will get a supper of cold grub. 



126 LADIES AND FLOWERS. 

We'll give them sauce and jam to flavor, 
Make them think we're awful clever; 
Some sour faces, I think would do. 
With unkind words I'll give a fiew. 

Had better work but half the day, 
And turn the rest over to play ; 
Be too lazy such fruit to raise. 
Visit neighbors' give them the praise. 

Bring about a reformation, 
Change the place of Berry Station ; 
Let us engage some other way, 
That we may see a brighter day. 



LADIES ^UD FLOWERS. 

I walked among the flower beds. 
Saw poppies blush and bow their heads, 
And cypress vines grow round a thread ; 
And pansies blooming on the bed. 

A striped rose stood by my side, 
Adorned as fair as any bride ; 
And mountain pinks so lovely too. 
First in the spring stand in our view. 

And other pinks on mound and bed. 
From brightest- bloom rich lustre shed; 
And sending oiit their rich perfume, 
Dianthus pink sq sweet in June. 



LADIES AND FLOWERS. 



127 



A lot of flocks stood in the shade; 
Their colors bright of every grade; 
They seemed to be so richly blessed, 
Declining on their beds to rest. 

A cabbage rose stood by my face, 

Its tints so light, you scarce could trace; 

The fairest roses of the land, 

Stood in a ring to form a band. 

Their colors, white, and red, and blue, 
A brown one in the distant view : 
And flowers fair of ever}^ grade. 
Stood in the sun and in the shade. 

The vining rose high on the tree, 
As proud as ever it could be; 
And rose of Sharon on a bush, 
Be still, my muse, no farther push. 

Some ladies' fair steps on the walk, 
'"'Now clear the wa}^, we wish to talk; 
SajM what comes next, or do j^ou know, 
Why w'oiiian's rights a;re all' the go? 

We hinted this the second verse, 
You still wrote on, and made it worse; 
Upon those flocks, beaux' eyes may glance^ 
But turn their e3'es, when we advance. 

With roses b^rightour cheeks compare, 
And own at once, ours is more fair; 
Those lovely pinks that shine so bright, 
Our ej^es send out more, lustrous light. . 



128 GRANGERS HARVEST HOME. 

Though lillies are so bright and fair, 
Our necks from beaux receive more care; 
Are guarded safe from every harm, 
So lovely bound just by beaux' arm. 

On our soft breast they lean their head, 
More pleasing than a flower bed ; 
Our flowry lips they off would bless, 
If with their own they once could press* 

TThough flowers fair you oft' may find, 
The}^ have no voice to please the mind ; 
Or notes or words to charm the ear, 
Like our sweet voice you often hear. 

The fairest flowers in the land, 
Beaux pass them by to take our hand ; 
And feel themselves forever blessed, 
When by our songs of love caressed. 



GRANGERS HARVEST HOME. 

AMONG the first that's on the ground, 
And flags afloating there I found; 
Buggies and wagons soon came round, 
Ere twelve o'clock a crowd I found. 

Rostraver Band oft' times did play, 
To liven up the scene that day ; 
And martial bands their tunes oft' took, 
And beat their drums with sour look. 



granger's harvest home. 129 

Farmers wives and daughters fair, 
Have worked for days food to prepare; 
A table there six hundred feet, 
Where all the hungry soon can eat. 

Ladies working about one score, 
Some faces I ne'er saw before; 
Set on the board their costly fare, 
To feed the thousands gathered there. 

Good dinner eat to satisfy. 

We finished up with cake and pie; 

Then belles and beaux stood in the shade, 

While smile met smile, Sheplers' Band played. 

An off-hand speech then George V. made, 
Upon a stand there in the shade; 
Spoke of farmers, mechanics too, 
His ideas good, for they were true. 

Spoke of granger's and their new plan, 
Dispensing with the middle man; 
Just save your money, when you can. 
Buy from the manufacture man. 

The laboring man near every branch, 
The granger's plan his wealth enhance; 
Subdue the earth and force the ground. 
In course of time a crop comes round. 

Good learning is a noble plan. 
To cultivate the mind of man ; 
Too many lawyers at the bar, 
The chance for farmers better far. 



130 granger's harvest home. 

Analyze the soil and you'll find, 
What minerals are left behind ; 
Supply the want, if ground is poor, 
You wish a crop spread on manure. 

Farmers, good boys, ne^er idle found, 
A, nation's wealth comes from the ground; 
Far more young men should sweat their brow. 
By clearing ground and holding plough. 

The corn and wheat they then could raise. 
And sing this song to farmer's praise; 
I can not tell how long he spoke, 
Sometimes he'd crack a little joke. 

An organ then stood on the ground, 
And scores of people standing round ; 
Some ladies' voices fine and clear, 
They played and sang to charm the ear. 

Ladies and gents and many there, 
And on their badge a plough hung fair.; 
The day was calm the sky was clear. 
Their harvest home comes once a year. 

And as the sun sank to the west, 
All thought of home to have some rest; 
While love, and peace, had ruled the day, 
As night came on, all passed awa}^ 



A lover's charge. 131 

A LOVER'S GHABOE. 

ONE thing my love, just let me tell, 
That you can do to please me well; 
Flirt with no beau, always be true, 
I have no belle my love but you. 

Flirtation is a cursed trade. 
Often ruins a handsome maid; 
Let nothing tempt to step aside, 
You promised fair to be my bride. 

You pledged your word I gave the ring, 
I made my pledge a binding thing ; 
Now what I say, you just believe, 
See that the ring touch no man's sleeve. 

Except the one goes on my arm. 
To touch it that will be no harm; 
The handsomest that's in the place, 
Most sure to fall first by disgrace, 

Think of yourself, then think of me, 
What happy days we may yet see ; 
Then live and love the best you can, 
You'll be my wife and I your man. 



132 THE TOBACCO QUESTION. 

THE TOBACCO QUESTION. 

ONE day I walked upon the street, 

I met a lady fair; 
Her hazel eyes were charming bright, 

And brown her shining hair. 

I said to her : when shall it.be, 
Her vail she put a side — 

That I may come a courting thee. 
Just for to be my bride? 

Your cigars burn all in the fire, 
No slobbers on my clothes; 

One thing I know you shall not make, 
A smoke stack of my nose. 

How a young man can ever think, 

To please a lady well; 
With poison cigars in his mouth. 

Is more than I can tell. 

Say! what of snuff ? or dare you tell. 
Just tell the truth to me; 

Some maidens that use the dirty dust. 
Is it the case with thee? 

Sometimes I use a little snuff, 
It makes my teeth look new; 

Then wash my mouth out clean again, 
I think that way will do. 



TO WOOL GROWERS. 133 

Well, why can I not dot he same? 

I think we can agree ; 
I'll smoke away, you rub your snuff, 

While sitting on my knee. 



TO WOOL GROWERS. 

A wool grower lives on the pike, 

Vanvoorhis is his name; 
Once stopped with him to stay o'er night, 

Relationship we claim. 

The jolly hours fast passed away. 

Till it was time to rest; 
When morning dawn brought on the day, 

With one good sleep I'm blessed. 

Good breakfast eat, then down I sat, 
Till eight o'clock came round; 

Then in the sheds to see his stock. 
The choicest sheep I found. 

His double-breasted Vermont sheep, 

Two hundred head or more; 
Were such a sight to gaze upon, 

I ne'er had seen before. 

Their hide so large, it lies in folds, 
Great room for wool to grow; 

And they are covered thick with it, 
From nose down to the toe. 



134 BEYOND THE THORN. 

His sheep all give a hearty look, 

For they are fat and full; 
They'll pay him well for all they took, 

In many pounds of wool. 

You hunt this country o'er and round. 

To find a shepherd man; 
And 3^ou may say, none have I found, 

To handle sheep like Van. 

vCold lambs he warms and feeds with milk. 

Then overcoats put on ; 
Of canton flannel double-thick. 

To keep them dry and warm. 

He visits Vermont twice-a-year. 
And long he looks with care; 

For better stock, if he could find, 
I think none better there. 

Wool growers now, if you will choose, 

r 11 tell a better plan ; 
That's if your stock jou would improve. 

Buy ews and bucks from Van. 



BEYOND THE THOR^. 

AS I walk in a balmy shade, 
Had by my side a lovely maid ; 
As joy can drive away all gloom. 
Beyond the thorn, sweet roses bloom. 



BEYOND THE THORN. 135 

Her form was neat, her features fine, 
Her lovely smiles oft' met with mine ; 
Plucked some flowers, just here and there, 
The choicest ones that's sweet and fair. 

Just as the sun popped through the shade, 
I said to her "my lovely maid: 
iNow while we walk just side by side," 
Say ! would you love to be my bride. 

And. walk with me the path of life, 
And be for me a loving, wife? 
I saw her smile, then heard her tell. 
You long have known, I love you well. 

And I see naught now in the way, 
To be your bride most any day; 
And run with you, the path through life. 
And be j^our kind and loving wife. 

Just four weeks now then you do say, 
Will be our lovely wedding day; 
And may our daj^s so happy be, 
As this fair day below this tree. 

In all our walks and ways through life, 
I your true man, you my true wife; 
And no odds where our lot be cast, 
JVIay love abound while life may last. 



136 CATSBURGH. 

CATSBURGH. 

AS I go out to sell my book, 

I walk the country round ; 
Above Monongahela City cross the creek^ 

A little town I found. 

Carrol Township once had this town, 

Just by the river side; 
This town is long from east to west, 

But is not so wide. 

A treaty here long time ago, 
With Indians once was made; 

Upon the ground, where this town stands^ 
Just in a willow shade. 

And Catsburgh was this town's first name^ 
And still the name holds on; 

And while I now describe the place, 
I'll write it in the song. 

For roving eats oft' times came there. 

As wild as they could be; 
To scratch, and bite, and scream, and fight^ 

To gain a victory. 

Some like a singedcat, I would say, 

That's better than it looks; 
Among the hundreds that live there, 

I sold them just six bookg. 



UNDER THE CHERRY TREE. 1^ 

O! banish cats now from the place, 

That it may have some rest; 
Let people sleep sound once at night, 

That they may once be blessed. 

And may it grow, and live in peace. 

And do the very best ; 
The cemeter}' is just above. 

The dead in peace should rest. 



UNDER THE CHERRY TREE. 

AS we walked out along the lane, 
To see the grass and waving grain; 
We wondered, for in coming round, 
A cherry tree just there we found. 

Was loaded well with ripest fruit, 
A shade in grass down to the root; 
And from the best that we could see. 
Eat what we wanted 'neath the tree. 

Why, I have most forgot to tell, 
She is the maid I love so well ; 
That with me eat the cherries there, 
Her eyes were blue, a lady fair. 

I looked at her, she looked at me. 
While we stood by the cherry tree; 
I thought with me, there is no fear. 
The question I will popp just here. 



UNDER THE CHEKRY TREE. 

But something got below my cheek, 
And stopped the words I wished to speak; 
I coughed, and spit, and looked about. 
But not a word could I get out. 

She looked at me and pulled my ear, 

And smiling said : do have no fear; 

The chunk just dropped then from my throat, 

In words to her, then plain I spoke. 

^I said: "I think you know me well, 
You marry me, say can you tell?" 
^'Why, yes!" she said: ''the case is plain, 
I thouojht of this while in the lane." 



'O' 



As we walked back, we set the day, 
Least some might think we ran away; 
We kept the plan safe and quiet, 
So the old folks would raise no riot. 

As time rolls on, the day came round, 
Her papa and mama together found; 
Well, father Boggs and mother too. 
Your daughter I must take from you. 

The old man said, and mother too, 
*'You think the gal will go with you?" 
"Why, yesl" I said: my chance is great, 
The buggy stands here at the gate. 

Her clothes are now upon her back. 
And we will soon be on the track; 
In shortest time walked to the gate. 
Hang to my arm, 3^ou lovely mate 



UNDER THE CHERRY TREE. 139 

Then off to town in best of speed, 
To find a 'Squire we were in need; 
And drove right to the office door, 
Where he tied lovers oft' before. 

I said: hallow! the 'Squire came out, 
He said: "what are you two about !" 
We came to hear some words from you, 
To bind us safe our lives all through 

That is the thing I often do, 
Just join your hands, you lovers true; 
Some questions then, and he was through, 
We answered "yes," "said that will do?" 

To kiss my bride, my long desire, 
Took out my purse and paid the 'Squire; 
Then to the cars right straight we went, 
A wedding tour was our intent. 

Then on we go for many miles. 
The people gazing at our smiles; 
For we were seated lovely there. 
Upon a large well cushioned chair. 

The air was warm, mid summer day, 
Cheerful we passed the hours away; 
A gazing at the scenes we passed. 
The cars were running fearful fast. 

Clear sky, the sun was shining bright. 
Next in the tunnel dark as night ; 
As Eg3^pt dark, no one could see, 
I thought the chance was good for me. 



j4:0 ON SCHOOLS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO. 

I kissed my bride, the crack was loud, 
Too loud perhaps for such a crowd; 
The cars then popped out in the light, 
The people stared with all their might. 

They heard the long sharp cracking sound, 
They gazed at us from all around ; 
Her ruffle was smashed flat from her neck. 
Her hair was down, lay in a wreck. 

The titter then went loudly on, 
All through the cars as we passed on; 
To fix the hair, I helped my bride, 
She said: no more on cars I'll ride. 

At first station, then we did stop, 
Consulted there on a new plot; 
We took the coach, then backward glide, 
Eesolved no n\ore on cars to ride* 



ON SCHOOLS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO. 

WHEN I was young, I went to school 

Upon the buckwheat plains; 
And often times I walked the road. 

Through frost, or snow, or rain. 

At dinner time, boys cut the wood, 

To have some fire to warm; 
And then we would play corner ball, 

'Till teacher blew his horn. 



ON SCHOOLS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO 141 

Most all book knowledge in my head, 

I got by teacher Fox; 
While many a boy received the rod, 

And many a fool the box. 

Had Oxgad tunes in early days. 

He beat the tune on pants ; 
And while ho played the tune so long. 

All on the floor would dance. 

The benches all of slabs were made, 

None had a back to rest. 
Along the bench without a back, 

The wattle plays the best. 

The teacher had a rule of wood. 

And note put down on paper; 
He played a tune upon the hand. 

Made boys jump and caper. 

Short meter tunes he always played. 

He thought it was the best; 
The boys would growl and often said. 

Too long without a rest. 

Near half the boj^s go in the plays, 

And oft' they got a chance; 
What fun they had in early days. 

In the school and in the dance! 

One term was in an old cabin, 

It had a puncheon floor; 
Four panes of glass to fill the sash. 

Wood hino:es for the door. 



142 ON SCHOOLS OF FIFTY YEARS AGO. 

Our writing desk, out of fashion, 

A board pinned to the wall; 
The scholars took it turn-about, 

Then it gave room for all. 

Our light came in between the logs^ 

Paper we had to rule; 
With home made ink of maple bark, 

We learned to write in school. 

A rod to train, some think abuse, 

And keep no rod in school; 
A bad boy now, if you have one, 

Can easy act the fool, 

You dare not now, once snub his nose,. 

Or even pull his hair ; • 

Or shake him well to dust his coat. 

Lest his fine coat might tear. 

Their is no wood for boys to cut. 

Dandies sit at their ease; 
Fops in broadcloth now can strut, 

And study when they please. 

The ladies now would curl their nose^ 

And boys would hate the fun ; 
To go back now for fifty years, 

Do as their parents done. 

The ladies wore a flannel dress. 

Coarse shoes to hide their feet; 
Hoods for their heads, gloves for their hands ,^ 

Coarse shawls, their dress complete. 



ON SCHOOLS OF FIFTY TEAKS AGO. 143 

To wade through ^now; through fields and wood 

Perhaps one mile or more; 
No board walks then we ever used, 

Or carpets on the floor. 

Boys had wool hats and flannel pants, 

With strings were tied below; 
To keep them down, their socks were shorty 

Lest they might feel the snow. 

Old cabins now are out of use, 

Well lighted, fancy halls: 
Fine chapels where you show j^ourselves. 

With fancy frescoed walls. 

Pianos their ladies beat on. 

And organs for to play; 
No Oxgad tunes for boys to dance, 

Old customs passed away. 

No house to clean, or floor to scrub. 
School maids don't work that way ; 

What fun we had to sing tind dance, 
Upon a winter-'s day. 



"144 NEAR THE WATER. 

NEAR THE WATER. 

WHEN I was young, learning my trade, 
Saw in that town a handsome maid ; 
And she was young and lovely fair, 
With rosy cheeks and curley hair; 
She was a rich merchant's daughter. 
She lived just there, near the water. 

"Now while I worked there at m}" trade, 
My mind was on that lovely maid; 
I'll work away, the best I can. 
Till 1 grow up to be a man; 
When Sunday came did not potter. 
Bob, where is John ? "near the water."- 

Kept hanging around for most one year, 
My mind was full of doubts and fear; 
At last to me, one day she said : 
Come on the porch, be in the shade ; 
She is my girl, I long have sought her, 
She lives down there, near the water. 

Now to meeting, one night I went. 
To make a start was my intent; 
The house was full, the night was fair. 
My lovely maid, I thought was there; 
I found my girl, went and caught her — 
She lives down there, near the water. 



NEAR THE WATER. 145 

We walk as though in cold weather, 
For we just walk so close together; 
I walked and laughed the best I could, 
For I thought now my chamce was good; 
Was so well pleased when I caught her, 
I took her home, near the water. 

And after this, the ice was broke, 
The boys all found it was no joke; 
I went With her to singing school, 
Take home my girl, it was my rule, 
I oft' was found with his daughter, 
Him that just lives there near the water. 

When I in years had reached nineteen, 
.1 thought I would not now be green; 
Popped the question in a splutter, 
*'Wh3^, John I you fool, what is the matter? 
Have a prentice hadn't arter, 
I just live here near the water. 

She had me lapped, her finger round, 
1 thought I had her also bound; 
She flung me now so far and clear. 
Wont touch a girl for seven years; 
I often wish I liad not caught her. 
Because she lives near the water. 

And often I have thought and said, 
Wont do to court and learn a trade; 
I tried it once to my sorrow. 



146 FtlBTATBOl^. 

Repent to-day and to-morrow; 

When once, we found and have caught her, 

I'll bet she wont live near the water. 



AS I rode out one pleasant day, 
I saw a maid walk on the way ; 
Said : "will you take a buggy ride? 
Be seated here just by my side." 

She said: well now I surely will, 
That vacant seat I can just fill; 
1 turned the wheel and helped her in, 
For she was just so neat and trim. 

We rode along in merry mood, 
The chance I saw for us was good; 
We talked of plans in early life, 
And how a man could get a wife. 

By courting her by night or day, 
Get her consent, then run away, 
To all this plan she did agree. 
Thinks I, this is the chance for me. 

We took dinner in town that day. 
Then turned our course another way: 
And traveled on while it was light, 
And then put up to stay all night. 



PLIETATION. 147 

You tell him that we're man and wife, 
Tell no one else to save your life; 
We slept so fine, our dreams so bright, 
For we slept on till clear day light, 

"0 ! take me home to Sunny Side, 
In two weeks more I'll be a bride ;"^ 
You'll be a bride, a bride for who? 
This is to me entirely new. 

Astonished me, to hear her plan, 

I felt like brute, instead of man; 

Had hugged, and kissed her every chanccy 

And in the hall we had a dance. 

And something else, I dare not tell, 
That pleased us two so very well; 
If I had known her plan in time. 
She might gone home on walker's line. 

Her man would hate to see my face, 
If he should know, I filled his place; 
Flirtation, what a cursed plan, 
A promised bride, to fool her manf 



148 UNCLE JIMS HOUND. 

UNCLE JIBM'S HOUND. 

HIS voice was clear as hunter's horn, 
When sounding loud or shrill; 

No more you'll see him race the fox, 
Round yon Wolf Harbour hill. 

Or see him skip o'er other hills, 

Or leap across the plains; 
On Maple Creek's high towering hills, 

There lies his last remains. 

No more obeys his master's call, 

Or by his bid to run; 
He was the dog that led the chase, 

In all the hunting fun. 

The fox, now safe, comes from his hole. 

Across the field to roam; 
There is no dog now like your black hound, 

To drive him to his home. 

The foxes now can have a feast, 

Of fattest pigs and hens ; 
And send the new? that 5^our dog's dead. 

To all their distant friends. 



THE SPRING OF 1875. l4& 

THE SPRING OF t875. 

THE long winter has passed away, 

No snow banks now we see; 
The ice- bound streams are all let loose, 

And they are running free. 

The shivering poor may clap their hand. 

With joy to meet the spring. 
And children sit upon the lawn, 

In their bare feet, to sing. 

The spring birds are now in the land, 

The robbings notes are clear; 
The blue bird and the gentle dove. 

With other birds we hear. 

The crocus like an earthly friend. 

Is first upon the way; 
And next you see the golden head. 

Upon the Easter day. 

The mountain pinks so rich in bloom, 

And welcome in their birth; 
And other flowers soon j'Ou'U see, 

A blooming on the earth. 

The spring has spread her mantle on, 

A living green we see ; 
For shrub and bush has come to life, 

Green leaves upon each tree. 



150- ADV^KTUEE. 

The sun has warmed the mother Earth, 
Seeds germinate and grow; 

And all rejoice to see the day, 
The balmy winds can blow. 



ADVENTURE. 



GET a man from trouble, 
Walk the road with paper; 

And some took it kindly, 
And some cut a caper. 

I came to a wagon, 

A lady stood beside; 
Billy with the basket, 

The cow corn did divide. 

Why was the season dry, 

Or is your ground too strong, 

To force the nubbins out, 
Almost three inches long. 

*'Rain was good in season, 

The ground was not too strong; 

But I did not hoe it, 

To make the ears grow long." 

Well, here, sign this paper, 
He grinning looked at me; 

"Then said : to do that thing, 
I never could agree." 



ADVENTUBE. 151 



The lady raised her voice, 
Her words were full of ire, 

On my head like fury, 

Her vengeance she did fire. 

Made excuse for water, 
Pretending to be dry ; 

I crossed the road so quick, 
A house was standing hj, 

I scrape upon the grass. 
Then wrap upon the door; 

In shortest time there stood, 
A maid upon the floor. 

She gave to me a glass, 
Of water pure and good; 

And I thanked the lady, 
You know, I alwa3'S would. 

I gaze upon her form, 

While she stood on the floor; 
Why surely this is Maggie, 

This girl I saw before. 

Smile and talk together, 
The door was open wide; 

I gaze upon her mammy, 
Down by the wagon side. 

"Mag said : wait for dinner, 
The pot is boiling brown;'-' 

The house stands by the road, 
Near a little old town. 



J 52 ADVENTURE. 

Time with me was precious, 
For moments passing on ; 

I had no time to stay, 

To lengthen out my song. 

Bade good-bye to Maggie, 
When in the road I stand; 

Bade good-bye to her mammy, 
With broom-stick in her hand. 

Twenty paces from her, 
As near as I dare stand; 

Fearing she might bast me, 
With broom-stick in her hand. 

Trot off on walker's line, 
And soon was out of sight; 

A man gets in trouble, 
A fuss to get him right. 

And then I cross the fields, 
A friend I thought to find; 

Showed to him my paper, 
Such papers never signed. 

The odds hard against me, 
But still I did proceed; 

Then next I met a friend. 
And sign he did indeed. 

Now half the day was gone. 
In running up and down ; 

And I getting hungry, 

By my long running around. 



ADVENTURE. 15^ 

But still I did proceed, 

'Till two more names I got; 
' Thon stopping at a bouse, 
The dinner in the pot. 

I knew this lady well, 

She has two daughters fair; 
Now with my friends to rest, 

1 sat down on a chair. 

Talk with the lady's man, 

And he is good and kind, 
I need not complain much. 

Good friends I often find. 

Good dinner eat with ease, 

My time was short to stay; 
Bead poems to plese the girls, 

And then I walked away. 

O'er hills and streams passed on, 

Until late in the night; 
Sometimes I got a name, 

Sometimes almost a fight. 

If e'er I come that way, 

I'll stop my friend to see; 
Find if her wrath is pouring. 

Severely yet on me. 

I will read this to Maggie, 

She talks so kind and free; 
And see if her mammy. 

Is yet so cross at me. 



IH AT CAMP MEteTIXa. 

Since I read this to Maggie, 
Her mammy sitting by; 

No frown was on her brow, 

But smile played round her eye. - 

Broomstick was laid away. 
Her words were kind to me; 

And as fine old lady, 
As I could wish to see. 



AT CAMP PflEETING. 

AT camp meeting, I met my beau, 

He should be kind to me ; 
We walked along upon the ground. 

No dinner did I see. 

He slipped away to eat his cake. 

And hid behind a tree; 
I think he had but one to eat. 

And that was not for me. 

I saw some ladies pass along. 

The}" went to dine, I know ; 
For each one had just by her side, 

A kind and loving beau. 

It was sometime till he came back, 

A sneaking rather slow; 
Then through the camp we walked again, 

My spirits rather low. 



AT CAMP MEETING. 155 

Through hunger and a troubled mind, 

The night came on so slow; 
But when he went to get his grub, 

To supper I did go. 

But it was with another man, 

And was more kind I know; 
He spoke to me at dinner time, 

And wanted me to go. 

Then back again while it was day, 

We just came into camp ; 
I looked around a time or too, 

And saw the stingy scamp. 

Why lovely one, where have you been? 

"No love it can not be 

You hid a noon to eat your cake 

No supper got for me." 
« > 

"A kind young man, that had a heart. 

To feed a starving maid; 
When in the carriage by his side. 

It's supper time, he said. 

*'Now you may walk upon the ground, 

And eat your cake alone; 
Before I swing upon your arm, 

I'll die a maid at home." 



156 LOST HIS LOVELY WIFE. 

LOST HIS LOVELY WIFE. 

NOW all my hopes, I uow may sa}^, 
With all my joys have passed away; 
Affliction's wave rolls o'er my breast, 
For this I mourn, and have no rest. 

How dark the hour was on that day, 
Death tore from me my love away; 
She lies now in death's cold embrace, 
And leaves no one to fill her place. 

For when I weep, no one is near, 
To check, or wipe the flowing tear; 
A hopeless man I walk alone, 
I have no love to meet at home. 

To cheer me on my way through life, 
I mean a kind and loving wife; 
No more I stand in her embrace, 
To gaze upon her lovely face. 

Her gentle spirit passed away. 
Her body lies deep in the clay ; 
A marble slab stands o'er her head. 
To mark the place where lies the dead. 

Now while I mourn long over doom 
A standing by her silent tomb; 
She hears me not in all my grief. 
No smiles from her to give relief. 



LOST HIS LOVELY WIFE. 157 

Nice evergreens now guard her tomb, 
And o'er her dust sweet flowers bloom ; 
You raging winds pour out 3-our wai], 
High o'er her tomb to tell the tale. 

And gentle breezes kindly wave, 

The grass that grows green round her grave; * 

Sweet singing dove ere you pass on, 

Sing o'er her grave your mournful song. 

Let clouds by night, their lightning play, ' 

Along the sky as bright as day; 

And flash across the cemetery. 

That my love's grave I there may see. 

Let hills and vales echo the sound, 
Where lovers true there may be found ; 
That they may learn, how sore my grief. 
And drop one tear for my relief. 

On her likeness, so oft' I gazed, 
And find myself so much amazed; 
The picture looks so much like life, 
The shadow of my lovely wife. 

When ocean waves ceas to roll. 
No star to shine from pole to polo; 
The sun refuse to light the day. 
My love for her may pass away. 



158 I.Err HIS GIRt i^EHIITD. 

LEFT HIS @BRL BEHIIiD. 

I left you dear, one day in June, 
And wandered many miles away; 

Strange hills, and streams, came in view. 
And still my thoughts to j^ou would stray. 

And while I roam along the vale. 

Where flowers bloom so bright and fair ; 
I pluck and hold some in my hand, 
, ^ And long I wish that 3'ou were there. 

Along the bank in solitude, 

I often think I hear you sigh; 
Then the gentle breeze would whisper. 

Your lovely one now is not nigh. 

When Luna pours her silver rays, 

Where the crystal stream is running on ; 

Sometimes I thought to hear its tune. 
Your name was mentioned in the song. 

It murmurs too at every turn, 
A winding on its lonesome way; 

Oh! how I long to be at home, 
To be with you one happy day. 



1]^ TBE ORCHARt). 159' 

IN THE ORCHABD. 

IN the orchard, once near the lane, 

I saw a lady fair; 
A hunting fruit to make some pies, 

Knew not that I was there. 

She clubbed awaj^, and sung her song, 

The apples falling fast; 
Never thought of me, nor turned her head, 

While I was walking past. 

This lady fair has waited long, 

To see a happy day; 
When all the cares of single life, 

Will surely pass away. 

The rose-blush 3^et was on her cheek, 

Her hair was long and fine ; 
^nd oft' I thought I heard her sing. 

That lovely beau of mine. 

The basket then was nearly full. 

As I passed out of sight; 
Perhaps the apples were for pie, 

To feed her beau that night. 



3.60 A REQUEST. 

A REQUEST. 

SOME lonely night, when gone to bed, 
On your pillow then rest your head; 
And may your dreams be long and sweet. 
Till morning light again you greet. 

Dream that your love is by your side, 
And you prepared to be his bride; 
To hear you had a dream like this, 
Would surely be my greatest bliss. 

And as the summer passes through. 
Would long to see your dream come true; 
If such a dream be your request, 
Then by your answer I am blessed. 

"In sleep, I dreamed as you have said, 
So now I am your loving maid; 
And now I long to set the day. 
Our single lives will pass away. 

And we be one in Hymen's band, 
Just by the way we join our hands; * 
Answer the words, the preacher said. 
As lasting as our earthly day." 



A SKETCH OF FIFTY YEARS. 161 

A SKETCH OF FIFTY YEARS. 

WHEN I was young, quite 3^ou)ig in life, 
I looked all round to find a wife; 
I crossed the creek one evening late. 
Went on the hill to find a mate. 

I found one there, high on the hill. 
She was the one to fill the bill; 
Her eyes were blue, a handsome pair, 
She had long black and shinning hair. 

The rose-blush played upon her cheek. 
Form and features were all complete; 
I sat that night close by her side, 
And courted her just for my bride. 

I courted her all times the best, 
Till it was time for her to rest; 
She struck a light then at the fire. 
No matches then it did require. 

She had the light in her left hand. 
And in the hall we there would stand; 
Her parting smile she set so fine, 
I pressed her ruby lips to mine. 

I kissed her there by candle light. 
Her hand in mine we bade good night; 
She with her light, went up to bed. 
And I went on my homeward tread. 



163 A SKETCH OF FIFTY YEARS. 

On down the lane, across the creek, 
High up a hill, I walked it quick ; 
Her home and mine almost in sight, 
I have walked the road Ihe darkest night. 

Then on the hill I oft' did go, 

Sometimes thro' mud, sometimes thro' snoWy 

Once in two weeks, about one j^ear, 

I and my love were seated near. 

Then once a week, a longer time, 
I long had known she would be mine; 
Had promised her, if I had life. 
That I would take her for mj wife. 

And while our courtship was so long. 
Our love increased, till it was strong; 
Her papa and mama, a fine old pair. 
They gave in time twelve daughters fair. 

I asked, if they had one for me, 
The one I long had come to see; 
Their answer right as it could be. 
One daughter then they promised me. 

One Sunday morn, a calm bright day,' 
Then to meeting we rode away; 
A Campbell was the preacher's name, 
That noble man that rose to fame. 

Soon after this we set the day. 
To drive oar single cares away; 
Be united as man and wife. 
To run the rugged path thro' life. 



A SKETCH OF FIPTT TBABS. 163 

Our wedding was in summer time, 
One hundred there to cut a shine; 
Our preacher was one of the place, 
We oft' before had seen his face. 

I stood beside my promised bride, 
While he just then the knot fast tied, 
At weddings then, they beat the floor. 
By jig, or reel, or two or four. 

Our infare next, the day was fine. 
And many came to sit and dine; 
As night came on, near all went home, 
And we were left almost alone. 

We're now in youth, so lovely gay, 
Bright prospects now before us pla}^ ; 
Hoping each year bring blessings new. 
Till we would pass a long life through. 

We did this way, then start in life, 
A happy man, a happy wife; 
In love passed on from year to year. 
Sometimes in hope, sometimes in fear. 

Sometimes sickness, but mostly health, 
And yet sometimes we gained in wealth; 
We're side by side now many years. 
Sometimes in smiles, sometimes in tears. 

Our children all are eleven. 
We are blessed with living seven ; 
For some have gone long down to rest. 
And will be found among the blessed. 



164 A SKETCH OE FIFTY YEARS. 

My children do the best you can, 
To choose a wife or choose a man; 
So you'll not say, when I am cold, 
I wish I'd done as I was told. 

As some one now may wish to see, 
Examples with commands agree. 
The course I took, a wife to choose, 
My plan just now I'll not refuse. 

]^iy affections for her were great, 
I choose her for my life-long mate; 
Describe my wife, I have no fears, 
I've lived with her most fifty years. 

Had youth and beauty on her side, 
When I choose her to be my bride; 
And when I took her for my wife, 
I had some stock to start in life. 

We're now far down the stream of life, 
I'm her true man, she's my true wife; 
Though time has tread light on my brow, 
Full three-score years are marked there now. 

You add six months, three da3^s in time. 
Her age will then square up to mine; 
We once were fair, I now may say, 
A handsome pair in youthful day. 

Our hearts need not with anguish burn. 
Our youthful days can not return; 
When she was young there on the hill, 
I loved her well, I love her still. 



MY MOTHER. 165 

MY MOTHER. 

I walked one day, the roads were fine^ 
Stopped at a house neat* supper time ; 
There are four boys one daughter fair, 
With features fine and flaxen hair. 

Their pappa and mamma in moderate health, 
They live in peace, enjoy their wealth; 
One dear old grandma in her room, 
Almost alone from morn till noon. 

I stood by her upon the floor, 
Her trembling hand I shook once more ; 
Walks on crutches, her door stands wide, 
At supper I sat by her side. 

My mind ran back through many years, 
The scenes I've passed near brought the tears, 
When she was young, I was her joy, 
For I was then her little boy. 

Now four-score j^ears hang o'er her head, 
Millions of souls since born, now dead; 
How strange she looks to me to-day. 
Old age is bearing her away. 

The almond tree has flourished long, 
The grinders cease, forthe}^ are gone; 
How soon she'll go, no one can tell, 
Those left behind must bid farewell. 



• 



166 PARTING. 



DEAR loving wife we part, 

I hope to meet again ; 
What sorrow fills my heart, 

From tears I scarce refrain. 

Hold on, you running cars, 
And stop, ye dropping sands; 

While tears of sore regret, 
Fall on the parting hands. 

Oh! give us longer time, 

We have not parted jety 
She's long upon my arm, 
What sorrow and regret. 

My time has come to go, 

I can no longer stay ; 
Ere one more day be gone. 

And many miles away. 

Run on, you railroad cars. 

Pour out your sands by the way; 

And bring me home again. 
To see a happy day. 



BRIGHTER PROSPECTS. THE PANIC. 167 

BRIGHTER PROSPECTS. 

LONG years of labor I have done, 

To mark my weary way; 
I now look up, the time's near come, 

To see a brighter day. 

Poverty's vale I'll pass one day. 

If shared with life and health ; 
And no misfortune In my way, 

I'll climb the mount of wealth. 

My days in years exceed three-score. 

My beard fast turning gray; 
Would like to live full two-score more. 

Before I pass away. 



THE PANIC. 

THE panic came in seventy-three, 
And money scarce as it could be; 
Cry money here, and money there. 
And no one had a dime to spare. 

In every town and country place, 
The panic found a resting place; 
But one chance left, now this is true, 
Just run your face where it will do. 



168 MDRDER AT THE WHITE ROCK, PA. 

The time will come, it will not pass, 
Then what comes next? Alas! alas! 
Oh! Uncle Sam, we look to you, 
Contrive some plan to help us through. 



MURDEB ^T THE WHITE ROOK, FAY- 
ETTE COUNTY, PA. 

ESCORTED by five cheerful maids, 

Along the mountain side; 
False-hearted lover, years ago. 

Cast o'er his promised bride. 

Here on the rock, we stand to see, 

This wild and fearful spot ; 
Some earthly joys there may be here. 

But I can find them not. 

For while I stand where she once stood. 

And think of what she bore; 
My blood runs cold through all my flesh, 

To chill at every pore. 

A demon here in human form, 
A fiend from the deep; 
To bring about that awful crime, 
Did force the maid to leap. 



MURDER AT THE WHITE ROCK. PA. 169 



1 gazed with awejust o'er the rock, 

To take a downward peep : 
And when I saw the place she fell, 

It gave me cause to weep. 

Her bones and flesh were broke and torn. 

Upon the rocks below; 
Oh I cruel man, how could you dare, 

To serve a lady so. 

Her blood remains, jet to this day. 

Upon the rocks she fell; 
Has stood the change of many years, 

That awful crime to tell. 

Now, all that come to see this rock. 

That deed can ne'er forget; 
Thougli many years have passed away. 

It brings fresh sorrow yet. 

To you young maids that wander here, 

To keep in memory dear; 
While standing on this fearful spot, 

Just drop one mournful tear. 

Fair Polly Williams perished here, 

While in her youthful bloom; 
Sweet flowers oftentimes may fade. 

Too soon, 3^ea long too soon. 

Fierce winds howl o'er this place dreadful. 

Sad echoes die away; 
I thought, I almost saw the maid, 

And heard her cry to-day. 



170 MURDER AT THE WHITE ROCK, PA'. 

Let blackest clouds hang o'er this rock, 

And forked lightnings play; 
To mark the sight of that vile deed. 

Till time shall pass away. 

I now walked on to see her grave, 

The ladies walked with me; 
The distance short, and we passed on. 

That noted grave to see, 

Fair ladies' stand there in a row, 

Be3^ond the grave from me; 
And I will stand just on this side. 

To see the grave and thee. 

No marble pile has man yet made. 

To stand above her. breast; 
Two mountain stones defaced by time, 

Yet marks her place of rest. 

Young ladies of this mountain side, 

On the twelfth day of May, 
Just cast your garlands on her grave. 

As years still pass away. 

Sixty-five years have rolled along, 

Since she lay there to rest ; 
When time shall cease, the trump will sound, 

She'll stand among the blessed. 

On Zion's hill, secure she'll stand. 

Her joys will ever be; 
No cries of woe from her be heard. 

But songs of victory. 



POOR HORSES. 171 

POOR HORSES. 

OLD man sat on his seat, 

With whip he drove a team ; 
And all the people say, 

His horses rather lean. 

Hard licks about they got, 

Through the muddy weather; 
Whipstock was made of wood, 

A]id the lash of leather. 

The lightest work they had, 

It was their corn to chaw; 
But little in the trough, 

I think, they ever saw. 

It's oft been in my mind. 

And almost tempted to say; 
Old man you should be fined. 

To use a team that way. 

A righteous man, they say, 

To use a brute is kind; 
But such a man in you. 

They can not ever find. 

Now take advise in time, 

Just use a little pride; 
And feed your horses well, 

And lay your whip aside. 



172 FIRST LOVE NOT FORGOT. 



A young man once lived on a farm, 

To court a maid he thought no harm; 

She's lovely fair, as goes my song, 

Yet his papa thought, he had done wrong. 

And sent him to a western State, 
To look round there to find a mate; 
There's no one there to please his mind, 
^Like Sarah Jane he left behind. ' 

He wrote to her one long year through. 
His love for her was great and true ; 
She answered him through hope and fear. 
Sometimes upon her cheek a tear". 

He spent one year in prime of life, 
And came straight home to take a wife; 
Receives him with extended arms. 
The great admirer of her charms. 

He said to her: you need not fear. 
No more I leave you by the year ; 
She said : to drive the scare away, 
I will consent, and set the day. 

The day was set, and soon came round. 
In wedlock's bands they have been bound; 
Enjo3^ed the bliss of wedded life, 
A happy man, a happy wife. ♦ 



LAMENTATIONS. 173 



YOU said tnat night must be the las.t, 
Of lovely Hours together passed ; 
Of this I thought quite strange of you, 
That I must bid a long adieu. 

You once pretended to love me well, 
Those times to you I need not tell; 
Your love for me allpromised fair, 
When I had you sometimes in care. 

Hung to my arm through mud and snow, 
"Wherever 5^ou did wish to go ; 
But now you have some other one, 
To go with you as I have done. 

Of daj^s thats past, I need not tell. 
When you pretended to love me well; 
Your love for me has passed away. 
Cut down flowers fade in a day. 

I grieve by day and stay at home, 

Or just walk out to walk alone; 

I used to walk close by your side, 

And thought that you would be my bride. 

My future days all dark to me. 
No lovely one I ever see; 
My life will be a dreary waste, 
I find no one to fill your place. 



174 PROMISED. 

My love for you has long been great, 
It grieves me sore to hear my fate; 
My future hope, my future bliss. 
All jo3^s to me I count amiss. 

No smiles for me upon your face, 
I stand no more in your embrace; 
I weep by night, and grieve by day. 
Just like some one tliats cast away. 

Upon some shore' to live alone, 
Where love no time is ever knovvn; 
And there without a lovely wife, 
To waste away my wretched life. 



PROMBSED. 

AS I walked out one pleasant day, 
I met a maid there on the wa}^; 
I raised my hat, and made a bow, 
A lovely smile sat on her brow. 

I said to her will e'er it be, 
That I may have your company; 
I am promised, as you can see, 
Here is the ring he gave to me, 



PHOMISEIX 



17^ 



I dare not now once touch your sleeve, 
Or I would cause my love to grieve; 
Why? ho.w is this you're so tight bound, 
Some other love you might have found. 

I've found manj^ such ones as you, 
But never found their love so true; 
As one that give the ring you see, 
His love is true always to me. 

As line and plumb is always true, 
I see that is the way with you; 
And blessed for life a man must be, 
That has a wife so true as thee. 

I bid good-bye and passed^along, 
And wandered as I traveled on; 
If I could find another one, 
If I should walk 'till setting sun. 



176 RUNAWAY WIFE. 

RUNAWAY WIFE. 

A man and his wife once stayed together, 
The house all open, and 'twas cold weather; 
The wind from the North kept blowing so thin. 
Whenever it snowed, it always blew in. 

He was too lazy to bring in the wood, 
And his wife stood it as long as she could; 
Now bad as it was, one very cold day, 
She lapped herself up, and then run-away. 

He raised a low growl, until he grew hoarse. 
For she had left him without a divorce; 
No tear for his growl, she hated his plan. 
Went to the country and got a new man. 

And he in his turn, used her so good. 

His house is all tight, he brings in the wood; 

Lives by industry, no favors need crave. 

Her first man is frozen, and gone to his grave. 



t'ROFESSIONAL MEN. 17? 

professbos^aL men. 

THE lawyer loves to stand in court, 
He'll plead your case for his support; 
Down in your pocket, first he goes, , 
Your case to him you then propose. 

He'll turn the jurors if he can, 
He'll do the best, that is his plan ; 
Would make them think that black is white, 
Have them believe that wrong is right. 

He's done the best that man could do. 
You had no proof to help him through ; 
The case is lost, he's not to blame, 
His clients oft' times complain. 

The doctor next, powders and pills. 
Sometimes he cures, sometimes he kills, 
If they get well, it is all right, 
Tf not, they are soon out of sight. 

Ten grains of morphia given at night, 
Will kill a man if black or white ; 
For Doctor Bonce tried that plan, 
Ere noon next day found a dead man. 

They ride by night, and ride by daj^, 
Sometimes do well, oft' get no pay ; 
No odds for sun or stormy day, 
By day and night thej^ ride away. 



178 PROFESSIONAL MEN. 

Some say his bills are far too high, 
He knew at first, the child would die; 
Don't blame the Doctor, if that's so, 
All flesh to dust in time must go. 

The orator, sways at hiswill. 
The passions of the soul; 

Their feelings he can well arouse. 
His word has lull control. 

He vindicates, and pitty reigns, 

If mercy he dictates; 
Or vengeance on the other hand, 

If wronof he once relates. 



'o 



Now tears or vengeance may prevail, 

"Which ever way he leads; 
Pitty or vengeance either way. 

No odds about the deeds. 

The warior, as he passes on. 

With legions in his tread ; 
His cannons roar, oft' shake the earth, 

And fields with blood stain red. 

Burning cities mark his track. 

Be it by night or day; 
And thick there lie the martyred dead, 

That's strewn along the way. 

The orphan's wail, and widow's cry, 

Is heard upon the street; 
Their sable garments they put on, 

Their Iriends no more to meet. 



PROFESSIONAL MEN. 179 

The poet, as by magic art, 

In all his winding ways ; 
His verses written in rhyme complete. 

And thousands give him praise. 

And talk of him who wrote for them. 

While in their youthful days ; 
And tell their children's children yet. 

To give the poet praise. 

And cast their garlands on his grave, 

In token of respect; 
Say, he is gone for many years, 

His poems we're reading j^et. 

Long as these poems may yet be found, 

Ladies will read them o'er; 
Rejoicing at the love displayed, 

As thousands did before. 

THE END 



^^s=^ 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

A Hard Time To Write 3 

Across The Fields 38 

A Birthday View 68 

Acrostic 84 

At Uncle Jim's House 88 

A Bachelor 100 

A Lovers Charge 131 

Adventure ' 150 

At Camp Meeting 154 

A Request 160 

A Sketch Of Fifty Years Ago 161 

Bad Contract 77 

Bring Back My Lovely One 110 

Berry Station * 125 

Beyond The Thorn 134 

Brighter Prospects 167 

Compliment 21 

Compliments 24 

Child Of Tender Years eo 

California 92 

California Again 94 

Courting On The Sly 104 

Celebrating Christmas 124 

Catsburgh 136 

Death Of Sagamore .^ 93 

Directions 117 

Extravagant 115 

Fiddler In The Corner 13 



182 CONTENSTS. 

PAOB. 

First Love Not Forgot 172 

Forsaken Maid 20 

For A Bachelor 63 

Forsaken House .,,, 83 

Five Little Girls , 97 

Faded.. j 101 

Flirtation 14^ 

Gone 107 

Grangers' Harvest Home 128 

In The Maple Shade 106 

In Allegheny County 121 

In The Balmy Shade 52 

In The Orchard 159 

Johnny Blair 82 

Kind People 37 

Ladies' Praise Long Forgot 5 

Ladies' Smiles 119 

Lamentations 173 

Lines On A Cemetery 10 

Lovers On The Lawn 15 

Lost Her Lovely Beau 56 

Ladies and Flowers 126 

Lost His Lovely Wife 156 

Left His Girl Behind 158 

My Wife ♦ .'. 41 

Marcus Lavene 48 

Man And The Rose 63 

Mossy Bock 102 

Marble Shop * 120 

Murder At The White Rock, Fayette County, Pa 163 

My Mother 165 

Night Loafers 40 

Near The Water 144 

On Facts 43 



CONTENTS, 183 

Page. 

On The Mountain Top 53 

One Hour Late 70 

Only Daughter f . 83 

On The Flowery Lawn 98 

On Schools Of Fifty Years Ago.. 140 

Parting Scene 60 

Parting From His Girl 13 

Poetry 16 

Peace And Love , 112 

Parting 166 

Popp The Question 117 

Professional Men 177 

Poor Horses 171 

Promised 174 

Reconciled 19 

Rule Twelve Forgot 50 

Run- Away Wife 176 

Singing School And Wedding 27 

Song Of Praise , . . „ . 118 

Sunsetting View • 57 

Sun, Moon And Stars 73 

Silence ,...,..,. 79 

The Old Peach Tree ^ 

Took Her Kiss And Eat The Bread 10 

The Little Girl 16 

The Maid With The Washtuh 17 

The Bashful Boys • 23 

The Way To Honour .' 26 

Three Nights At Tea. . .-. 33 

The Brighter Day. .;:....» ; . . ; 36 

The Merry Milk Maids *....» ; . . . . > . . ; 48 

The Farmer's Wife 49 

That Song 59 

That Stormy Night 64 



l84 Contents. 

The Ring 68 

The Married Man And The^Eachelor ." 74 

The Scottish Maid '. 81 

The Little Girl At School 95 

The Flowers Praise 119 

To Wool Growers 133 

Tobacco Question • • 132 

The Spring On875 149 

The Panic 167 

Up The Creek 44 

Union 83 

Under The Cherry Tree- 137 

Uncle Jim's Hound 148 

Vines On A Mound 78 

Willie Lee TS 




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